I’ll leave you with Nick Ames’ match report from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Thanks for your company and emails - goodnight.
"You could see the quality we have upfront"
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 3, 2022
Ben Davies and Matt Doherty reflect on an important win for Tottenham, as they moved into the top four in the Premier League 👇 pic.twitter.com/NyU1vcAt3Q
And the third goal was a beauty as well
What a start to the second half for Tottenham as Son makes it 3-1 to the hosts! 👏 pic.twitter.com/dcGilKoKTH
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 3, 2022
This cross is ridiculous
They've turned it around! 💥
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 3, 2022
Matt Doherty dives in at the back post to head Harry Kane's cross into the back of the net and put Tottenham 2-1 up! pic.twitter.com/SFV93JH6K5
Full time: Tottenham 5-1 Newcastle
Peep peep! Spurs move into the top four after coming from behind to batter Newcastle. After a sluggish, frankly dull first 38 minutes, Newcastle made the mistake of taking the lead through Fabian Schar. That stirred Tottenham, who scored four in 25 minutes either side of half-time. Ben Davies, Matt Doherty, Son and Emerson Royal got those goals, and the substitute Steven Bergwijn completed the scoring near the end.
If you think this means Harry Kane had a quiet game, you’re wrong. He was in No10 mode today, particularly in the second half when he played a series of marvellous passes. After a slow start, Spurs were great; after a solid start, Newcastle went to pieces.
Updated
90+1 min Three minutes of added time.
90 min Kane, who has done everything except score in the second half, shoots just wide from 25 yards. Dubravka had it covered though.
89 min “A few weeks ago, on the back of some indifferent performances, appointing Conte wasn’t looking that great a pick,” says Rick Harris. “but he seems to have got Spurs back in the race for fourth place and if Arsenal drop points at Palace tomorrow night I’d put Spurs as favourites to be in the CL come the end of May.”
He’s just a brilliant manager, and hilarious to watch on the touchline. I still think Arsenal will do it, though it’s going to be extremely tight. And the rearranged north London derby will be a stormer.
88 min Kane sprays another gorgeous crossfield ball to Son on the left. He cuts inside and hits a fierce shot that is blocked by Schar.
87 min “I’m sure Newcastle will stay up,” says Niall Mullen, “so we should savour days like today before the ineluctable future of bowing down before the totally independent sovereign wealth fund and its online army of whataboutery merchants.”
The same army that will now send a load of emails calling me all sorts. Cheers Niall!
85 min Bergwijn slaps a spectacular shot that brushes the roof of the net. As good as Spurs have been, Newcastle have fallen apart.
GOAL! Spurs 5-1 Newcastle (Bergwijn 83)
And that’s why Antonio Conte switched to 4-2-4, to try to massage Spurs’ goal difference against a broken Newcastle defence. The fifth goal was all the work of two substitutes. Lucas Moura charged away from Burn and poked the ball through to Bergwijn, who slid it calmly under Dubravka.
Updated
82 min Spurs have switched to a back four, with Davies and Doherty at full-back and Bergwijn alongside Kane up front.
20/20 - Harry Kane has assisted 40 goals in the Premier League; his first 20 assists were spread across his first 211 appearances in the competition, while his last 20 have come in his last 63 appearances. Vision. pic.twitter.com/1Js2teaQQM
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 3, 2022
81 min Another change for Spurs. Emerson Royal is replaced by Steven Bergwijn.
79 min Newcastle’s next three matches are all at home to mid-table teams, and then they go to the bottom club Norwich, so I don’t think they need to worry about a relegation battle just yet. But they’ll want a couple of wins in those four games, because they have a nightmare end to the season - three of the last four matches are against Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal.
Updated
77 min “As a Liverpool fan, I am delighted how well Diaz has settled into the club,” says Joe Pearson, “but it sure seems like Kulusevski has done just as well at Spurs as a January addition.”
I’d say he’s done even better. Those two signings, Kulusevski and Bentancur, have made an almighty difference to this team.
76 min A double change for Spurs. Harry Winks and Lucas Moura replace the excellent pair of Rodrigo Bentancur and Dejan Kulusevski.
75 min Emerson Royal is down holding his face after an off-the-ball shove from Burn. That would have been a second yellow for Burn had the referee seen it; he didn’t.
74 min If it stays like this, Spurs will be in the top four for the first time since August. Arsenal have two games in hand, the first of which is a tricky trip to Crystal Palace tomorrow night.
Since his PL debut on February 9, Dejan Kulusevski has registered more assists than any other player in the competition:
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) April 3, 2022
🇸🇪 Dejan Kulusevksi - 5
🏴 Harry Kane - 4
🇫🇷 Alexandre Lacazette - 4
Make. It. Permanent. 🅰️🙌 pic.twitter.com/j69RgWoIZo
71 min Kulusevski backheels the ball to Kane on the right edge of the area. He tries an imaginative shot with the outside of the right foot that hits his teammate Emerson Royal and goes well wide. Kane has been quite majestic in the second half.
Updated
70 min Newcastle make another change - Chris Wood is replaced by Jamaal Lascelles, so Shelvey will move back into midfield and someone else will play up front.
69 min Willock heads over from Guimaraes’s cross, a fairly decent chance.
68 min Lloris flies from his line to dive at the feet of Fraser. Good goalkeeping.
66 min Newcastle defended immaculately for the first 40 minutes, but since then they’ve been a mess. That said, Spurs’ front three have been electric.
Updated
65 min: Son misses a great chance to make it five! Kane put him clear with a glorious driven pass; Son took it down on the run but dragged his shot wide of the far post.
GOAL! Spurs 4-1 Newcastle (Emerson Royal 64)
Emerson Royal gets his first goal for Spurs! It was another really good move. Doherty played a one-two with Kulusevski, moved the ball onto his right foot and clipped it into the six-yard box. His fellow wing-back Emerson Royal got away from Targett and stretched to volley past Dubravka.
Updated
60 min Newcastle have switched to a back three, with Shelvey dropping in as the spare man.
59 min A double change for Newcastle: Bruno Guimaraes and Jacob Murphy replace Javier Manquillo and Joelinton, who was flirting with a red card.
58 min Schar makes a good sliding block to deny Kane, who was found on the left of the area by Son. Since going behind, Spurs have been brilliant.
Kulusevski galloped down the right, onto an excellent return pass from Kane, before looking up and rifling a low cross into Son. He took it in his stride and slammed the ball high into the net from close range. That’s a lovely goal.
Updated
GOAL! Spurs 3-1 Newcastle (Son 54)
Spurs have scored three in 12 minutes either side of half-time!
Updated
50 min Newcastle almost equalise straight from the kick-off, with Wood rattling a shot just wide after a mistake from Dier.
Kane lost Burn in the inside-right channel, turned and curled a beautiful ball into the middle. Son missed an attempted volley but Doherty got the wrong side of Manquillo at the far post and stooped to head past Dubravka.
Updated
GOAL! Spurs 2-1 Newcastle (Doherty 48)
Spurs are in front!
Updated
46 min Burn is booked for fouling Kane. He’s fuming about the decision and has a few words when Kane gets to his feet.
46 min Peep peep! Spurs begin the second half.
Half time: Tottenham 1-1 Newcastle
Peep peep! An uneventful half was enlivened by late goals from Fabian Schar and Ben Davies. Newcastle have frustrated Spurs with their defensive organisation - Spurs have had around 65 per cent of the possession but only a couple of shots on target.
45+2 min: It’s kicking off! There’s a bit of a melee near the touchline, started by Saint-Maximin and Bentancur going head to head over nothing much. Joelinton also got involved, shoving Bentancur over, and then the players on both sides assumed the hold-me-back position for a few seconds. Saint-Maximin, Bentancur and Joelinton are booked.
45 min Two minutes of added time. And here are the two goals.
Newcastle take the lead and Hugo Lloris won't want to see this again 👀
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 3, 2022
Fabian Schär fires his free-kick round the wall and Lloris can't keep it out! pic.twitter.com/JskCxtGIEU
Tottenham weren't behind for long! 😮
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 3, 2022
A brilliant delivery is nodded home from Ben Davies! 💥 pic.twitter.com/6drkAQHLol
The goal stemmed from a Son corner on the left that wasn’t properly cleared. Dier gave the ball back to Son, who curled a devastating cross into the six-yard box. Davies arrived late, stiffened his neck muscles and steered an accomplished header across Dubravka.
Updated
GOAL! Spurs 1-1 Newcastle (Davies 43)
Spurs are level!
Updated
41 min There was a check to see whether Schar’s free-kick brushed the arm of a Newcastle player. It didn’t and the goal stands!
It’s an error from Hugo Lloris, not that Newcastle will care. Schar curled the free-kick towards the bottom corner, on Lloris’s side, but Lloris reacted late and could only punch it into the net as he dived to his left.
Updated
GOAL! Tottenham 0-1 Newcastle (Schar 39)`
Fabian Schar gives Newcastle the lead!
Updated
38 min Willock is fouled just outside the area by Son. This is a decent opportunity for Newcastle, with Shelvey and Targett over the ball.
38 min “That Powerade advert (6 min) is fantastic,” says Matt Dony. “Next time I’m playing five-a-side and I run out of puff (10 minutes in), I’ll just explain that Pause is Power, and it’s an important part of winning according to Antonio Conte. Also explains some of Laurent Blanc’s defending in his later years. That man could pause.”
36 min At the other end, Saint-Maximin’s low cross is booted away by Dier.
35 min Kulusevski’s flat cross is headed onto the roof of the net by Hojbjerg. Manquillo did enough to ensure he didn’t have a clear header.
33 min Davies is a bit fortunate to escape a yellow card after a late tackle on Fraser.
32 min Newcastle have quietened the home crowd and are now enjoying their first extended spell of possession. Eventually Shelvey wafts an ambitious pass straight out of play.
Updated
29 min The impressive Bentancur plays a no-look pass into Son on the edge of the D. He turns and hits a shot that is comfortably saved by Dubravka. But it is a shot on target, the first of the match I think.
26 min Kane, trying to make amends after giving the ball away, fouls Saint-Maximin and is booked.
24 min For all their possession, around 75 per cent, Spurs haven’t tested Martin Dubravka. Newcastle look very well organised defensively.
22 min: Great defending from Romero! Willock picks up a loose ball in the area, wriggles away from two defenders and smashes a shot that is superbly blocked by Romero. “What a block!” says Jamie Carragher on Sky. “He’s a top player him.”
20 min Bentancur wins the ball off Saint-Maximin and flattens him in the process with an accidental arm to the face. Saint-Maximin is down and looks pretty groggy.
17 min Dier curls the free-kick a few yards wide of the right-hand post. Dubravka had it covered.
16 min Joelinton fouls Kulusevski 30 yards from goal. Newcastle are really struggling to get out. The free-kick is slightly to the right of centre, and Dier is over it...
14 min Bentancur fires a pass into Kulusevski, who steers it neatly to Kane just inside a crowded penalty area. He drags a right-footed shot wide of the near post.
12 min Newcastle’s wide attackers are playing like full-backs. Spurs have had 80 per cent of the possession so far.
11 min Dier fires a superb pass into Kane just outside the area. He turns but then slips as he shapes to shoot.
Updated
9 min Lots of Spurs possession, though it’s all been relatively harmless.
7 min Son’s corner is headed over by Dier in front of the near post. It wasn’t much of a chance.
6 min “Don’t know if Powerade is a thing in the UK,” says Joe Pearson, “but imagine my surprise when Conte turned up in their ‘Pause is Power’ campaign.”
Crikey, that’s a great find. I wonder if he’s replaced his morning coffee with a Powerade chaser.
Updated
5 min After a good spell of possession from Spurs, Bentancur’s shot is headed over his own bar by Schar.
2 min Saint-Maximin is fouled by Romero on the left wing. Targett’s free-kick is headed away by Emerson Royal.
Updated
1 min Peep peep! Newcastle, wearing their black change strip, kick off from left to right.
Five minutes to kick off
Spurs will move into the top four if they win by two goals. A Newcastle victory would move them above Brentford into 14th.
Here’s more on the early game, in which West Ham beat Everton 2-1
Spurs have dropped to sixth without kicking a ball. That’s because West Ham beat Everton 2-1 in the early game, so they move above Spurs on goals scored. But Spurs have two games in hand.
This is a good read on a player who has become very important for club and country.
“Today,” says Yash Gupta, “we will find out if Emerson Royal is a football player or whether he should be deleted from our memory like Nuno’s tenure!”
I like the idea of a football version of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. I wouldn’t mind erasing 19 April 2000 from my memory.
Spurs make one change from the side that beat West Ham a fortnight ago. Emerson Royal replaces the injured Sergio Reguilon, which means Matt Doherty will move to left wing-back.
Eddie Howe has made three changes to the Newcastle XI that lost at Goodison Park. Javier Manquillo, Jonjo Shelvey and the fit-again Allan Saint-Maximin come in for Emil Krafth, Bruno Guimaraes and Miguel Almiron.
Spurs (3-4-3) Lloris; Romero, Dier, Davies; Royal, Bentancur, Hojbjerg, Doherty; Kulusevski, Kane, Son.
Substitutes: Gollini, Rodon, Sanchez, Winks, Bowden, White, Bergwijn, Lucas, Scarlett.
Newcastle (4-3-3) Dubravka; Manquillo, Schar, Burn, Targett; Willock, Shelvey, Joelinton; Fraser, Wood, Saint-Maximin.
Substitutes: Darlow, Dummett, Lascelles, Ritchie, Krafth, Murphy, Gayle, Longstaff, Bruno Guimaraes
Referee Martin Atkinson.
Team news
This is how we line-up this afternoon! 👇 pic.twitter.com/gSO5Yf7EQE
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) April 3, 2022
⚫️ 𝗛𝗢𝗪𝗔𝗬 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗟𝗔𝗗𝗦! ⚪️#TOTNEW pic.twitter.com/xacmDLCDb2
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) April 3, 2022
Preamble
Hello and welcome to live coverage of Tottenham Hotspur v Newcastle United at the This Sponsorship Deal is Taking a While Stadium. A lot has changed since the return fixture, a 3-2 win for Spurs at St James’ Park in October. Steve Bruce left Newcastle a few days later and Nuno Espirito Santo was similarly invited to do one from Spurs at the start of November.
Their replacements are a lot more popular with each set of supporters. Antonio Conte, who has the lowest nonsense threshold since records began, is starting to reduce levels of Spursyness in north London, while Eddie Howe has calmly steered Newcastle away from relegation bother. Both teams bought well in January and are on decent runs of form. Spurs have won five of their last seven in the league, Newcastle six of the last nine (though they have lost their last two).
Newcastle, in 15th, are looking up rather than down and could yet finish in the top half. Spurs’ target is ultra-specific: fourth place, the magical portal to a world of Champions League riches and greater recruitment opportunities. They are three points behind Arsenal having played a game more. This isn’t quite a must-win game, but it’s not far off.
Kick off 4.30pm.
Updated
