Tottenham’s struggles in the Premier League continued as they suffered a 2-1 defeat at home to Newcastle United on Saturday, extending their winless streak to four matches.
Spurs got off to a promising start, with Dominic Solanke finding the back of the net in just the fourth minute.
However, their lead was short-lived, as Anthony Gordon levelled the score two minutes later. Newcastle then took control when Alexander Isak scored what proved to be the match-winner in the 38th minute.
The game was not without controversy, with Spurs supporters and players expressing frustration over officiating decisions. Newcastle’s equaliser came after Joelinton appeared to handle the ball in the buildup. Despite protests, referee Andy Madley and VAR upheld the goal, ruling no infringement had occurred.
Destiny Udogie shares and deletes post about VAR
Tottenham’s injured left-back Destiny Udogie, who is out until mid-February with a hamstring injury also expressed his dissatisfaction.
Watching the game from home, the 22-year-old shared his frustration on social media as reported by Football London, captioning a post with “VAR what a joke.”
And although he was quick to delete the post soon after, it was not before many captured the screenshot.
Udogie’s absence has posed challenges for manager Ange Postecoglou’s defensive setup. Djed Spence has been filling in at left-back, showing promise, but Tottenham’s defensive vulnerabilities have been exposed against stronger opposition like Newcastle.
Offensively, Spurs struggled to make the most of their opportunities, managing only four shots on target from 13 attempts and generating an xG of 0.94 compared to Newcastle’s 2.45. Despite coming close through Solanke and hitting the woodwork, they failed to find a way back into the game.
Now sitting in 12th place, Tottenham face mounting pressure to address their defensive issues and rediscover their form. With Udogie watching from the sidelines, the Lilywhites must regroup and find solutions to regain momentum in the Premier League.