Newcastle’s chief executive, Darren Eales, once likened the task of rebuilding the club to “building a plane in midair,” and after Sunday’s tense 2-1 victory over Tottenham, Eddie Howe will understand exactly what he meant. Despite Tottenham’s dominance, there were moments when Newcastle appeared to be hanging on by a thread, with their defense stretched to the limit and their grip on the game slipping away.
Tottenham controlled much of the match, bombarding Newcastle’s goal with crosses and shots, yet somehow, Howe’s side managed to hold on and secure all three points. Ange Postecoglou and his staff will be left puzzled by how their team, which seemed to be in control for large portions of the game, ended up on the losing side.
“We controlled most of the match and just needed to kill it off,” Postecoglou reflected after the match, clearly frustrated by his team’s inability to capitalize on their chances. With new £65 million signing Dominic Solanke unavailable, Tottenham’s most dangerous efforts came from outside the penalty area, and they were left to rue their missed opportunities. “I’m very disappointed. We had chances to win comfortably, so to walk away with nothing is a bitter pill to swallow,” he added.
Newcastle, meanwhile, started the match with intent, seemingly determined to shake off the frustrations of a challenging transfer window. Although they couldn’t maintain their initial ferocity, they managed to exploit Tottenham’s high defensive line effectively, reminding everyone of their counterattacking prowess.
“It was tough,” admitted Howe. “We came under pressure but responded really well and found a way to win. It’s been stressful and tough for us this summer, so to move forward in such a positive manner bodes well for the rest of the season. We’re not playing as well as we’d like, but we’re defending very well. It was a massive win.”
The match had plenty to reassure Newcastle’s chairman, Yasir al-Rumayyan, who watched from the stands. Although the post-match discussions between Rumayyan, Howe, and sporting director Paul Mitchell might have been intense, Newcastle’s resilience in the face of Tottenham’s pressure will have provided some relief, especially after a frustrating transfer window that saw their pursuit of Crystal Palace’s Marc Guéhi ultimately fall short.
Harvey Barnes was instrumental in Newcastle’s early success, particularly when he volleyed home Lloyd Kelly’s cross in the 37th minute to give the Magpies the lead. The finish was a moment of brilliance, but it also highlighted Tottenham’s defensive vulnerabilities, as Kelly had found it surprisingly easy to contain Wilson Odobert on the left flank.
In response, Postecoglou introduced Brennan Johnson at halftime, a move that significantly altered the game’s dynamics. With Johnson wide on the right and Dejan Kulusevski’s stint as a false 9 ending, Tottenham became a far more dangerous team. The equalizer eventually came when Dan Burn inadvertently turned the ball into his own net after Nick Pope parried a shot from James Maddison into Johnson’s path, leading to Burn’s unfortunate clearance attempt.
Tottenham’s pressure continued, with Son Heung-min and Pedro Porro both coming close to scoring, but Newcastle weathered the storm. The introduction of Sandro Tonali, making his Premier League comeback after a 10-month suspension for betting breaches, helped Newcastle regain some control in the closing stages.
In the end, Newcastle’s ability to absorb pressure and take their chances on the counterattack proved decisive. Despite Tottenham’s dominance, it was the Magpies who walked away with the victory, leaving Postecoglou and his players to ponder what might have been.