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Spurs progressed into the fourth round of the Carabao Cup for the first time in three years. Two late goals courtesy of Djed Spence and Brennan Johnson saw the Lilywhites scrape through against Championship outfit Coventry City.

It was a Tottenham performance that resembled a group of players low on confidence as they were dominated by the Sky Blues who ran their opposition ragged.

After bombarding Fraser Forster’s net, Brandon Thomas-Asante finished a flowing counter-attack midway through the second period to give Coventry a deserved lead.

James Maddison, Heung-min Son and Dejan Kulusevski were introduced into the fold with their team in dire need of an injection of quality. The trio certainly provided that in an abundance.

Cute and clever interplay from Maddison and Kulusevski saw the latter slip through the advanced Spence, who crucially got to the ball first to poke in Spurs’ equaliser with less than sixty seconds of the ninety to go.

That goal knocked the wind out of Coventry's sails and their misery was compounded when Rodrigo Bentancur played through Johnson, who showed a tremendous amount of composure to delicately dink the ball over the onrushing Ben Wilson to complete a late comeback.

But there will be a lot to analyse for Ange Postecoglou after his side looked the inferior team for the large majority of the tie, here are four things we learnt.

A potential turning point for Brennan Johnson?

The Welshman’s relationship with the Tottenham fanbase reached an all-time low last weekend after social media abuse directed to the winger after his North London derby showing made him resort to deleting his Instagram account.

Johnson didn’t start the game but was a very early substitute for the injured Wilson Odobert and he came on with a point to prove.

The 23-year-old silenced a lot of doubters as he proved to be Tottenham’s saviour with a cool, calm and collected chip in the dying embers which prevented the Lilywhites from yet another untimely exit in a domestic competition.

Despite the fantastic finish, it was evident that Johnson’s affinity with the fans is fractured and it was a damning indictment that the former Nottingham Forest man not only didn’t celebrate in that jubilant moment, but showed little joy at full time and his applause to the travelling fans was brief.

That 93rd minute winner to save Spurs from a dreaded penalty shootout showed Johnson has resolve and the minerals to be a heroic player for the North Londoners, and everyone involved with the club will be hoping he can use that decisive goal as a platform to revive his confidence.

Djed Spence deserves more minutes

Spence was a surprise non-inclusion in the starting lineup but came on at the interval for Destiny Udogie and operated on his less natural left side.

The defender gave Spurs a lifeline in the last minute of allotted time when he burst into the box and showed desire to latch onto Kulusevski’s intricate pass before the onrushing Coventry goalkeeper Ben Wilson to restore parity.

The most stirring aspect of Spence’s goal was how he dictated the play leading up to the equaliser, as he commanded his captain Heung-min Son to make a run down the left flank to draw the defender away and create space before darting through and pointing to Kulusevski to show exactly where he wanted the ball.

You would have been forgiven for mistaking Spence as an established member of the squad, but that was only his second competitive appearance in almost two years for Tottenham.

Not only was Spence not included in the starting eleven, but he has also been omitted from Spurs’ 25-man squad for the Europa League group phase, a competition many were expecting him to get a chance to impress in.

The 24-year-old demonstrated he can be a valuable asset amongst the players Postecoglou has at his disposal, and it will certainly give the Australian food for thought over the coming weeks.

Was Dominic Solanke the right man for Tottenham?

The Lilywhites splashed roughly £65 million on securing Solanke’s services this summer, a fee which made the Englishman the most expensive acquisition in Spurs history.

However, the 27-year-old’s displays have been underwhelming thus far and the striker has really struggled to impose himself on any of the games.

Against Coventry he was kept very quiet by Mark Robins’ defence and did not prove to be an outlet for Postecoglou and was subsequently axed on the hour mark for the skipper Heung-Min Son.

In fairness to Solanke, the service by his teammates has been virtually non-existent and an ankle injury on his debut against Leicester City has understandably halted his progress and fitness.

This midweek game was an opportunity to announce himself to the Spurs faithful and build some belief that he is the man to build the team around.

But the sharpness and potency appear to be lacking at the moment and if the former Bournemouth man does not show any flashes of potential in the near future, the pressure could start to mount.

Ange needs to hold a more serious approach towards the domestic cups

Spurs’ lack of trophy success in the last two decades is one of the most well-documented narratives in English football and the domestic cups seem to be the most viable avenue of lifting some silverware.

Postecoglou made eight changes to the starting eleven and as much as squad rotation is necessary, Tottenham simply couldn’t afford to crash out of a domestic competition at an early stage again and they were very close to.

As soon as some more senior players entered the pitch, the momentum completely shifted and they did end up looking like a Premier League team against Championship opposition.

The performance from his players poses a lot more questions than it answers and the 59-year-old will have a lot to digest in a short space of time as the visit of Brentford to N17 is less than 72 hours after their Carabao Cup game.

It will be interesting to see how much the manager rotates for their first Europa League game at home to Qarabag next week after Wednesday's game being worryingly close to a debacle.

The Australian manager has stated that he always wins things in his second year, but for that statement to remain true, he may have to sort out his priorities.

It was another disappointing outing for Tottenham as they fell to a third consecutive defeat at the hands of north London rivals Arsenal.

A singular goal from Gabriel saw the Gunners head back to the Emirates Stadium with three points.

Here is how the Spurs players performed:

Tottenham Player Ratings

Guglielmo Vicario - 4

The Italian stopper looked vulnerable at set pieces once again and his failure to command his box adequately put his side in trouble. He was also booked for sparking a melee after confronting Jurrien Timber for a risky challenge on Pedro Porro.

Destiny Udogie - 5

Udogie still does not look back to full fitness and he has not imposed himself as he consistently did last campaign. Defensively, he kept Bukayo Saka relatively quiet, but the 21-year-old offered very little going forward.

Micky van de Ven – 6

The only Spurs player who looked prepared and ready for the occasion. His pace and athleticism is so useful for the way Postecoglou wants to play and he mopped up any raking long passes that Arsenal’s front three were chasing.

Cristian Romero - 3

The Argentine was at fault for Arsenal’s goal, as he left Gabriel unmarked from a corner to power home the winner. His awareness has been highlighted as a big issue so far as he has gone to sleep to Spurs’ detriment against Leicester and Newcastle.

Pedro Porro – 5

Despite the Spaniard usually looking like a defensive liability, his positioning was on point and intercepted several cross-field passes towards Gabriel Martinelli. Like the majority of his teammates his final cross hit the first man far too often.

Rodrigo Bentancur – 5

Bentancur was chosen to operate as a lone holding midfielder after Yves Bissouma was ruled out after picking up a knock during international duty with Mali. And with a potential lengthy suspension imminent, the Uruguayan did not put in a performance to remember.

James Maddison - 4

The Englishman hasn’t rediscovered the form he was praised so highly for at the start of last season. He looked to make things happen but his final pass lacked accuracy .

There is a lot of pressure on Maddison to be Spurs’ creative outlet but his displays are far too inconsistent at the moment.

Dejan Kulusevski – 4

The frustration with the Swede is that he often struggles to pick the correct pass and it prevents a lot of potential attacks from materialising.

Postecoglou is choosing to play him in a more central area after a strong pre-season through the middle, but the 24-year-old hasn’t made the desired impact.

Brennan Johnson – 3

Johnson got himself into promising positions, but the Welshman was very wasteful and lacked that cutting edge. He lashed over a couple of presentable opportunities and the large majority of his crosses did not meet their intended target.

Heung-min Son – 5

Spurs’ captain found it difficult to show his strengths against the low block of Arsenal. In the first half, the South Korean linked up well on the left flank with Udogie. However, after the interval Arsenal managed to nullify Son and he could not conjure up any magic.

Dominic Solanke – 4

Tottenham’s record signing was kept extremely quiet by the defensive duo of Gabriel and William Saliba. In fairness to the striker, it was his home debut and being flung into the North London Derby this early into his Spurs career is an extremely tough way to begin.

Substitutes

Pape Matar Sarr - 4

The Senegalese was brought on to provide some security with Bentancur on a yellow card, but his arrival into the game changed very little.

Sarr is usually at his best when he has a midfielder partner to him to complement him and he struggled to deal with the responsibility of being Spurs’ lone midfielder with the Lilywhites chasing the game.

Timo Werner – 4

Came on for Maddison and hugged the left touchline. Never really looked like a threat and Ben White kept him at an arm’s length.

Wilson Odobert – 5

The teenager was introduced into the fold with roughly twenty minutes to go and looked lively. However, the Frenchman still looks raw and Timber never looked too concerned with the winger’s presence.

Ange Postecoglou has stated he thinks Tottenham Hotspur can quickly bridge the gap to the best teams in the Premier League.

Tottenham finished fifth last campaign with 66 points, 25 behind champions Manchester United and 23 below rivals Arsenal.

Ahead of the North London Derby tomorrow, Postecoglou, 59, was asked about how Spurs can close the gap to the best teams in the competition, with the Australian believing it is a 'combination of things'.

"I really do think it will be a combination of things. Real success cannot lie in just one little match or thing. There needs to be more substance in it. Everything I’ve earned in my career I’ve worked hard for. I haven’t found an easy way to do it. If one thing does exist, maybe somebody will pass that on," he answered.

"But it’s a whole range of things you need to improve. These aren’t small differences in the cold light of day. You have to acknowledge it. That’s the starting point. If you think there isn’t a massive gap then it kind of defeats the purpose.

"That shouldn’t be daunting. It shouldn’t make you think it’s insurmountable. I certainly don’t think it is.

"I think the gap that exists between us and the top teams we can bridge and we can bridge very quickly if we stay disciplined and focused on what we’re trying to do, improve our squad, improve the way we play our football, allow our group to learn to win on a consistent basis and what that requires – and that sometimes means missteps along the way.

"I’ve always felt that anything you get in this game is hard-earned. We have to earn that. It’s not going to be easy. It’s going to be a challenge for us."

"It's not just about winning"

Tottenham have failed to beat Arsenal since May 2022, losing three of their past four encounters.

It's the one match Spurs fans mark on the calendar every season, knowing the local bragging rights are always at stake. It leads to a 'win at all costs' mentality for fans, but Postecoglou – from a professional point of view – sees it differently.

Naturally, the 59-year-old desperately wants to walk away with victory against Arsenal, but he also wants to make sure the performance matches the result.

"It’s a great measure but it’s not just about winning. You can win a game like this and walk away knowing they played us off the park in reality. I’ve always said to go out there against the best and perform, that’s the best measure," he outlined.

"Then hopefully you will win the game as well, because ultimately that's what you want to do. If we go out on Sunday, dominate this game, create more chances, really nullify them, then I think, irrespective of the result, the players will walk off thinking 'okay next time we’ll have another crack at it'.

"That’s where the real belief comes from. They’re a good measure for us, not just in winning the game, but can we play our football against them and walk off the pitch saying we really took it to a top team?"

The Gunners go into the North London Derby as favourites, despite missing Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice. They are further down their project compared to Spurs, but Postecoglou believes his side are already one of the best pressing teams in the league.

"I don’t really line us up against a specific opponent, but I think there are certain things we are already close to being the best in the competition at – the way we press and counter press. I don’t think there’s many teams that do that better than us at the moment," the former Celtic coach stated.

"The way we can play through pressure is right up there as well. That gives us an area to focus on at the weekend to make sure we really bring our 'A game' for that part of the game and then hopefully the other stuff kicks in as well."

Ange Postecoglou reiterated his winning mentality ahead of Tottenham Hotspur’s derby clash against Arsenal on Sunday.

“I just want to win, mate,” the Australian, 59, said during his pre-match press conference, with his comments forming after he was asked if he feels more pressure following the saga that developed with Arsenal at the end of last campaign.

The 59-year-old struggled to understand fan reactions in May when some suggested they wanted to lose to Manchester City to prevent the Gunners from winning the title.

Despite the Australian's mentality, they lost 2-0 that night, but he does not feel any more pressure now due to it.

Postecoglou wants to win every match just as much; the level of pressure does therefore not change. “I don’t feel any more pressure because there was pressure in that game [against City]. I want to win every game. It doesn’t change anything,” he outlined.

Tottenham have not won a North London Derby since May 2022. It means the world to fans of both clubs, but the former Celtic manager continued to reiterate that it is just another match on the calendar.

“I hate to think, I really would hate to think there are players in the dressing room who want to win this game more than any others or prepare differently or try harder in this game than any other. Because that’s not the way forward,” he said.

“We understand the significance of it, because, if we do win, our supporters will be over the moon. I understand that. If we don’t win, they are going to be devastated. If we prepare this game differently than any other, then I’m disappointed because I want to win every time.

“That’s the only way you can be successful. I make no apologies for that. I’m not going to prepare any different for this game than I did against Newcastle or I will against Coventry.

"I want to win all the time and I want our club to win all the time. If you beat your rivals in a big derby game, then everyone gets excited and everyone feels great. But I want more than that. It’s not what I am after.”

A big win needed to restore faith?

In the trivial world of football, rivalries define emotions. Win and fans go away delighted. Lose and it’s the end of the world.

They are the first fixtures fans look towards when the calendar is released during the summer, with the rollercoaster journey they go on – particularly true with Spurs – sometimes causing long-lasting stress.

Although Postecoglou wants his staff and players to treat the North London Derby the same as any other match, he does not ask the fans to do the same. “I have said a million times – fans can feel the way they want to. It’s their club,” he quickly highlighted.

“They can be as happy, as disenchanted, as optimistic or as pessimistic as they want. My role is to try and give them a team that gives them hope, belief and joy. That’s it.

“But I am not going to tell them how to feel. If they want to win this game more than any other game, then good on them. But it’s not me; it’s not who I am.”

The perspective of fans changes regularly, especially after a derby win. With Spurs failing to win a single derby last season against Arsenal, West Ham or Chelsea, it has been suggested that a win on Sunday could restore some faith in the fanbase. But Postecoglou does not care about that narrative.

"If people have lost faith in what we’re doing, I cannot let that be my guide to what we’re doing. My guide is what I see on a daily basis, the way we play our football, the way the team is growing and I’m as optimistic and as bullish as I’ve ever been,” he made clear.

“Is it important to win big games? Absolutely yes, I want to win big games. But we won big games early last season. It doesn’t mean it’s going to get you to where you want to get to. There’s got to be a consistency in approach.

“There’s nothing I’ve seen to make me waver in my belief about what we’re doing. Whether that externally is reflected by people’s faith or belief, there’s only one way to change that... perform and win.”

“I don’t think we’ve been terrible defensively”

Spurs’ defensive fragilities were well-documented last campaign. They suffered whenever they lost the ball – and they only looked like a well-formed group when all four star defenders were fit and ready.

The same concern has spread into the new campaign, with Spurs conceding ‘poor’ goals against Leicester and Newcastle. However, Postecoglou admitted he has not been worried about their defensive performances.

“I don’t think we’ve been terrible defensively so far this year. We’ve conceded three goals and limited the opposition to fairly few chances. We’ve just had a couple of lapses, obviously. It’s the nature of football,” he believes.

“If you’re going to be more attacking, you’re going to have more gaps the other way. I get it, people are going to say: 'We want to be more attacking, but we want to be really solid defensively.' We’re talking about perfection; that doesn’t exist with anyone.

“We are airing on the side of being more attacking and aggressive, which is going to mean we concede more than others. But that’s fine. I’m comfortable. The key is to score more goals than the opposition which we haven’t done so far.”

Ange Postecoglou has confirmed both Dominic Solanke and Micky van de Ven are available for Tottenham Hotspur's match against Arsenal on Sunday.

Solanke missed Tottenham's past two matches through an ankle injury picked up on the opening weekend of the season against Leicester. He is fit for this game, whilst Van de Ven was unavailable for their match against Newcastle according to Postecoglou.

"Micky van de Ven has trained pretty fully through the international break. Dom is back after this week. He joined in with the first team and he trained today. We've got training tomorrow, so if they make it through, they will be available," the Australian outlined.

However, midfielder Yves Bissouma returned from the international break with a knock and Postecoglou, 59, confirmed he faces a late fitness test.

"Bissouma is the only one with an issue. It is not serious, but he's getting treatment today. We will see if he can train tomorrow and make a decision there."

Dealing with North London Derby expectations

Postecoglou understands the significance of rivalries through his spell at Celtic – but his success in Scotland is yet to be replicated south of the border.

Tottenham have not beaten Arsenal since May 2022, losing three of their last four encounters. After not winning a single match against rivals West Ham or Chelsea last campaign, pressure is building on Spurs to finally deliver on the biggest occasion.

When asked to sum up the rivalry, Postecoglou outlined that "every derby is a bit different."

"It's fairly intense between the two clubs. Geographically, they are situated in the same part of town – trying to defend the same turf. I thought both games last year were very entertaining," he stated.

"We played well at their place and really matched with them. We could have even won on the day.

"At our place, we got blown away in the first half. We tried to make a game of it in the second half. [There were] plenty of goals. We know what it means to our supporters and the club. We have got to go out there and perform. Irrespective of the rivalry, they are a top side."

Tottenham's North London Derby struggles are well documented, but Postecoglou insisted he will never try to manage expectations.

"I would hate to think I would go into any game trying to get people to manage expectations. You go into every game hoping to win. I do not think you should walk into a stadium fearing anything or [be] scared to dream and be successful.

"I have never done that in the past. It's not the way I coach or lead my life. Every game you have is an opportunity to do something special. That's the way you should approach it."

Postecoglou expected Bentancur's FA charge

Rodrigo Bentancur was charged by the FA on Thursday, with a statement from the organisation stating he acted in an improper manner and used abusive words.

It came after he made a racist joke in the summer, stating: “Sonny’s? It could be Sonny’s cousin too as they all look the same.”

The Uruguayan could be in line for a six to 12-game ban under the FA's rules, but Postecoglou admitted he expected the charge.

"Not unexpected from our perspective. We knew it was something the league would look at. We need to let the process play out now. Rodrigo is aware of the ramifications, but we will wait and see what they come out with," he stated.

Postecoglou later added: "In terms of Sonny and Rodrigo, they had a discussion about the whole incident. Both players understand and respect each other's position.

"He's already apologised for what he said. Sonny has accepted that and the fact one of his teammates and a person he is close to made a mistake.

"Whether you are a footballer or anyone down the street, we all live in the same world. We understand the ramifications of our actions.

"Ultimately, we represent ourselves as people. We try and do the right thing all the time, but we all make mistakes. For me, it's not just about punishment; it's the opportunity for people to learn. If you are talking about having a society that is understanding and tolerant of anything, we must show that to people who make mistakes.

"We know him very well – a lot better than most because we spend every day with him. He's a great guy and fantastic teammate who has made a big error this time – and he's got to take the punishment. But, we need to give him the opportunity to learn from it. Hopefully, others learn from it as well."

Three defeats on the spin in the North East does not make for pretty reading for Ange Postecoglou's side.

Despite dominating proceedings, Spurs squandered countless of presentable opportunities and were punished for their wastefulness by Newcastle's proficiency in front of goal.

Harvey Barnes opened the scoring in the first period, with an instinctive half-volley that flew beyond the despairing reach of Guglielmo Vicario, to give the Magpies the advantage going into the break.

Tottenham came out after the interval with a renewed sense of endeavour and an onslaught of chances on Nick Pope's net ensued.

Eventually, Eddie Howe's defence succumbed to the pressure, with Dan Burn inadvertently smashing in Brennan Johnson's effort into his own goal.

The North London based club had a flurry of chances to grab the winner, but they themselves were undone with roughly ten minutes to go.

Jacob Murphy raced clear and squared the ball to Alexander Isak on a silver platter and the Swede had the simple task of rolling the sphere into the untended net.

Spurs attempted to restore parity again, but failed to test the makeshift Newcastle backline, which resulted in them making the trip back down to London empty-handed.

Postecoglou needs to turn their losses into learning, and here are some things we learnt.

Radu Dragusin is a man you can trust

Radu Dragusin was a surprise inclusion in the starting berth, after Micky van de Ven was ruled out due to injury. The Dutchman's pace and athleticism makes him a valuable asset, especially in this system, so his replacement had big shoes to fill.

Dragusin ended up being Spurs' best player on the day, with his last-ditch interventions preventing Newcastle from turning a slender win into a rout.

The Romanian offers different qualities to van de Ven, with Dragusin being blessed with more vigour and strength. That robustness was a necessity in dealing with the height that this Newcastle team possess, which makes them a threat from set-pieces.

With Tottenham's schedule being congested with Europa League and domestic fixtures, Dragusin will end up being called upon several times this campaign, which Postecoglou will not be afraid to do considering the attributes he provides.

Solanke's return cannot come soon enough

Tottenham made a statement this summer with the club record signing of Dominic Solanke from Bournemouth.

Many aspects were considered by Postecoglou and technical director Johan Lange when analysing forward options, but Solanke's fitness particularly stood out.

The 26-year-old is a tireless presser and his availability for his old side was crucial last campaign as he appeared in all 38 Premier League matches for the Cherries.

So, it is ironic that Solanke has already missed two of Spurs' opening three league games.

He was desperately missed by his new teammates on Sunday, as his stature and aerial ability would have been key against the low block of Newcastle.

They were crying out for a natural poacher to latch onto the countless of crosses being smashed across the six-yard-box, and if Solanke had been available it could've been a very different story at St. James' Park.

It doesn't help when the other natural striker in Tottenham's ranks, Richarlison, was also unavailable through injury.

Brennan Johnson does not get the praise he deserves

The Welshman regularly gets flung into the negative limelight after a defeat and has frequently been treated as a scapegoat since his arrival from Nottingham Forest last summer.

Johnson is a polarising figure amongst the Spurs fanbase, with many regarding him as a potential world beater one day whilst others consider him a weak point in the system.

In his first season at the club, the winger registered five goals and ten assists in the Premier League with Cole Palmer, Michael Olise and Bukayo Saka the only players under the age of 23 notching more goal involvements in English football's top flight.

The 23-year-old started the game on the substitute's bench, but his introduction into the fray at the interval sparked a change in his team's attacking impetus and completely changed the face of the game.

He terrorised Newcastle full back Lloyd Kelly on multiple occasions and it was his shot that forced the own goal that got Spurs back into the contest.

You never really know what you've got until it is gone, and the difference Johnson made on the pitch on Sunday proved that old adage.

Trust the process

Despite only collecting four points out of a possible nine, Tottenham fans should try to not let the disappointing results cloud their judgement.

Based on the statistics and performances, Spurs should have collected the maximum complement of points so far.

Whether it is down to a lack of potency, poor decision making or just simple lady luck going against them, Tottenham find themselves with an underwhelming points return after three games played.

But football is a fickle, fragile game and Postecoglou's and his players' fortunes can change in an instant.

The previous two visits from Tottenham to St James' Park, had yielded ten goals for the Magpies, conceding just one. However, on the first Sunday of September, it was much less comfortable for those in black and white.

The Toon started positively but with not much reward. Alexander Isak almost caught out Spurs keeper Guglielmo Vicario with a deft chip from just outside the right side of the box.

Harvey Barnes then went just wide with a vicious effort from outside the area, just bending it past the right past, before Lloyd Kelly's header went marginally over the bar, following an Anthony Gordon corner.

The Lilywhites came back with half-chances of their own, with Pedro Porro and Pape Matar Sarr going close from long-range.

However, it was the hosts who scored the important first goal, Barnes connecting to a Kelly cross to divert the ball into the far corner past Vicario, to make the half-time score 1-0.

Spurs came out firing after the break, however, and put the Toon under heavy pressure, with Wilson Odobert somehow missing a gilt-edged opportunity at the back post.

The momentum had well and truly switched, and not long after the Frenchman missed, Tottenham got their deserved goals, albeit in slightly farcical circumstances.

James Maddison's strike from the edge of the area was parried by Nick Pope before Brennan Johnson followed in. The Welsh Internationals shot, struck Pope, before striking Dan Burn, whose attempted clearance, found the top of the net at the Gallowgate End.

The onslaught from the visitors continued, with Porro continuing to try and score from long-range before Maddison forced an excellent save out of Pope.

It was the Magpies who struck next, however, after a brilliant pass from Joelinton, set up substitute Jacob Murphy, who unselfishly squared it for last season's top scorer Alexander Isak to tap in.

However, following the toons' goal, there were no further shots from the visitors, as the magpies defended resolutely, to preserve a key three points, to take the position of 5th, and to go into the first international break.

Newcastle Player Ratings

Nick Pope - 7

Six saves for Pope today who backed up his call-up into the recent England squad. However, his poor kicking was highlighted today, with only nine passes successful out of 26.

The goal conceded was not his finest moment, as he should have done better with Johnson's miscued shot across goal, instead parrying it into the leg of Burn.

Tino Livramento - 8

Back to what we saw from Livramento last year. A quite exceptional defensive performance shut out Heung-Min Son, with eight clearances backing up his safe performance on the ball.

He almost had an assist too, as his pass through to Isak set up the Swede with a clear shot, but Radu Dragusin made an exceptional last-man clearance. Another player drafted into the Three Lions squad, the 23-year-old is just starting to build up form.

Emil Krafth - 6.5

Krafth is likely to have started his last league game for most of the season, with Fabian Schar likely to come back into the team after the conclusion of his suspension.

However, Krafth once again showed he is a reliable back-up, and backed up his good form with a solid performance, keeping fellow countryman Dejan Kulusevski quiet. Not as busy on the ball as he was at the City Ground on Wednesday, but tidy nonetheless.

Dan Burn - 7

Another excellent defensive performance from the Blyth-born defender. Own-goal aside, which wasn't his fault in reality, another very solid off-the-ball performance, featuring three duels won from five, as well as seven clearances.

Similar to his centre-back partner Krafth, he was quiet on the ball with only 38 touches as Spurs dominated possession but was extra-reliable when called on completing 81% of his passes.

Lloyd Kelly - 7

Kelly had a mixed game. Brought to the club in the summer as a left-back, more suited to Howe's system than Burn, the Englishman's defensive capabilities have always been strong, as shown at St James' with four clearances and an interception.

In attack, he was quiet, with the exception of a brilliant assist for the first goal from Barnes, where Kelly's low cross perfectly picked out the winger. Perhaps should have had a goal for himself as well, when he headed narrowly over from a corner.

He may well play instead of Lewis Hall for weeks to come, despite the 19-year-old's vast improvement over recent months.

Sean Longstaff - 6.5

Despite not being as glamorous as his midfield counterparts, the Newcastle academy graduate once again backed up his selection with a tidy performance in the middle of the park.

Accurate with passes, and winning nine duels, Longstaff once again proved that he has the ability to be part of the squad in the future, even if his current position is up for grabs following the return of Sandro Tonali, who came on for Longstaff in the 68th minute.

Bruno Guimaraes - 5

Nowhere near his best, but with only 46 touches, that is expected. 100 touches in his last game against Bournemouth, the Brazilian was a passenger in midfield for most of the game, completing only 18 passes.

Defensively, however, he won only seven of his sixteen duels and lost possession 12 times, as well as being dribbled past twice. Even the best have off days, and this certainly was one.

Joelinton - 5.5

Similar to his fellow Brazilian Guimaraes, Joelinton was once again quiet as Spurs dictated the game in midfield. His one moment of quality was the pass through to Jacob Murphy, leading to the Magpies second goal.

Winning only three out of fourteen duels in midfield, the 28-year-old lost possession 14 times and committed a game-high five fouls, this was another performance to forget on the whole for the Brazilian.

Anthony Gordon - 5.5

Switched to the right side of the attack, Gordon was once again very ineffective, in comparison to last season's world-class performances. Losing the ball 21 times, the Englishman completed just one dribble and was accurate in only 58% of his passes.

Despite his poor start to the season, he has been on the receiving end of an England call-up, but with Barnes performing very well on the left, Gordon finally has some much-needed competition for his place in the starting eleven.

Alexander Isak - 6.5

His goal masked another isolated performance from Isak. Completing a mere nine passes, and with just 29 touches of the ball, his performance can be excused, but his lack of involvement in the game will worry Eddie Howe.

After hitting the bar in the first five minutes, his goal after 78 minutes was only his third shot, the other being blocked. He won only three duels and lost possession on ten occasions, Isak needs to pick up his game before Callum Wilson returns from injury.

Harvey Barnes - 7

Barnes started the season as the second choice on the left wing, but his last two Premier League appearances have likely secured him a starting place in the near future.

He took his goal very well against Spurs and did nothing wrong on the ball, but managed just 15 touches, the lowest of anyone to start the game, which included only 4 passes. Should have secured his spot for the time being after the international break, however.

Substitutes:

Jacob Murphy - 6

His assist for Isak's goal was very straightforward, but other than the pass, his effect on the pitch was very limited. Losing the ball eight times, he completed just seven passes and won no duels. Murphy had a brilliant pre-season, but his weaknesses are starting to show.

Lewis Hall - 6.5

Another very quiet substitute appearance from Hall, who appears to have lost his previously strong starting eleven spot to Lloyd Kelly. In 25 minutes against Spurs, he managed a mere ten touches, losing possession twice, but defensively, his positioning was improved and had better awareness.

Sandro Tonali - 6.5

On his eagerly anticipated return to competitive football at St James Park, the Italian was relatively subdued and was forced to work hard off the ball, to help ensure Newcastle remained in the lead. Losing possession just once in almost 30 minutes, he showed his quality well and will be looking to be back in the starting eleven after the international break.

Tottenham lost for the third consecutive campaign at St. James Park, as goals from Harvey Barnes and Alexander Isak condemned the Lilywhites to their first defeat of the season.

Barnes' instinctive volley opened the scoring but Spurs levelled the scoring just shy of the hour mark, with Dan Burn inadvertently putting the ball into his own net.

Isak caused the Tottenham backline nightmares in the 6-1 and 4-0 demolition in recent years and the Swede made sure that nightmare recurred as he tapped home the Magpies' winner.

However, this performance and scoreline was nowhere near as comprehensive as the previous two encounters. Ange Postecoglou's players arguably deserved to win, as they consistently bombarded Nick Pope's goal.

But it ended up being a similar story to their first away game of the season against Leicester City, with Spurs made to rue their failure to capitalise on their dominance.

Here's how the Spurs players fared.

Tottenham player ratings

Guglielmo Vicario - 6

There wasn't an awful lot Vicario could do about either goal. The Italian keeper commanded his box well and distributed effectively when needed.

Harvey Barnes' perfectly placed volley was well beyond the outstretched glove of Spurs' stopper and he was left heavily exposed for Isak's winner.

Pedro Porro - 6

Porro looked typically dangerous offensively, but looked a liability defensively. Anthony Gordon is one of the trickiest customers in the Premier League and the Spaniard never looked comfortable.

Porro attempted several long range efforts, with sporadic accuracy.

Radu Dragusin - 8

Dragusin was a surprise inclusion into the starting eleven due to Micky Van de Ven's absence, but the Romanian was Spurs' best player on the pitch.

He prevented an almost certain goal right after the interval with a perfectly-timed challenge on Isak and battled well aerially from set-pieces. Without his interventions the game would've been beyond Spurs very early in the second period.

Cristian Romero - 4

It was an uncharacteristically poor performance from the Argentine as he really struggled to cope with Isak's darting runs in behind.

Newcastle's winner came from Romero bizarrely stepping up, which left Jacob Murphy in acres to bare down on goal and square for Isak. Lacked urgency in possession with his side searching for a late equaliser.

Destiny Udogie - 5

It was a quiet game from Udogie, and the full-back appeared to miss the presence of van de Ven. The Italian didn't impose himself on proceedings as he usually would, and he still does not look back to complete sharpness following a prolonged spell out injured.

Yves Bissouma- 7

Bissouma controlled the midfield, which is no easy feat when the opposition have players such as Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton in the middle of the park. His quick feet and intricate passing in tight spaces gave Spurs an advantage for the large majority of the game.

Pape Matar Sarr - 7

The Senegalese was Spurs' biggest goal threat in the first half, with two fierce efforts from range forcing Nick Pope into action. He was unfortunate to be the player to make way at half time, as Postecoglou looked to inject some more attacking threat into the team.

James Maddison - 6.5

Maddison has began to rediscover the form which saw him being regarded as one of the best players in the Premier League. His creativity was stifled by Newcastle's low block, but he still managed to direct a few rasping strikes goalward.

Spurs' goal came from a Maddison shot from distance, which Pope could only palm into the path of Brennan Johnson.

Dejan Kulusevski - 6

The athleticism of Kulusevski is a perfect attribute for a tough away game, with his ability to protect the ball and his durability important assets for a game such as this.

But as the game drew on Kulusevski's decision-making left a lot to be desired, which will frustrate Postecoglou.

Due to the unavailability of Spurs' two recognised senior strikers, Dominic Solanke and Richarlison, Kulusevski had to play more centrally. He held up the ball well, but he isn't the clinical sort of player that Tottenham desired this game.

Wilson Odobert - 6

The teenager is still incredibly raw, but you can't help but feel that the Lilywhites have an exciting winger just waiting to flourish.

His confidence to demand the ball and the subsequent directness he possesses asks a lot of questions of oppostion defenders.

Unfortunately, the final action isn't quite there yet, as he missed a huge chance from two yards out, but at only 19, time is on his side to master his craft.

Heung-min Son - 5

Son had some success in the first half in his more natural left wing position testing Tino Livramento. The South Korean was then moved to play through the middle, but like Kulusevski, he consistently made the wrong decision on a counter attack.

Substitutes

Brennan Johnson - 8

The Welshman completely changed the game. He was introduced into the fold at halftime and instantly made an impact, testing Lloyd Kelly numerous times.

It was his deflected cross which presented Odobert with a golden opportunity to restore parity. But Johnson himself will be credited with forcing Dan Burn's own goal, as his effort on the rebound from a James Maddison shot forced Pope into a sprawling save into the path of Burn.

Lucas Bergvall - 6

Came into the game with ten minutes to go and recycled possession well.

Timo Werner - 5

Failed to make an impact in the closing stages with Spurs needing a goal.

Rewind five years, Tottenham Hotspur had just smashed their transfer record to bring in Tanguy Ndombele from Olympique Lyonnais, in what was the club's first signing in eighteen months.

Mauricio Pochettino, with the help of Lucas Moura, had miraculously dragged his men to a UEFA Champions League final in the previous campaign and was now being backed by the board with funds to improve his playing squad, having not made a single signing in the previous two transfer windows.

Spurs remain the only club in Premier League history to go a whole summer window without adding one player to their ranks, yet somehow that no-show in 2018 ranks nowhere near the horror show which is the 2019 summer transfer window.

Money spent, but not wisely

Daniel Levy allowed Pochettino to splash the cash on his top targets, with the Lilywhites spending £200m on Tanguy Ndombele, Jack Clarke, Giovani Lo Celso and Ryan Sessegnon.

Five years later, not one of these four remain at the club, and they all left for a combined fee of just under £10m. Spurs opted to release Ndombele, but that alone set them back a measly £5m to do so. In total, they have had to settle for a £190m loss and that is before we include the large sum that the quartet ate up in wages.

Tricky French midfielder Ndombele was not the only one to be sold for nothing, with Spurs refusing to take up the one-year extension clause in Ryan Sessegnon's contract, meaning he was released for free.

Giovani Lo Celso was sold for just £8.4m, with the only saving grace being the £5m Spurs recuperated from the sell-on clause included in Jack Clarke's £750k move to Sunderland.

Arguably the most disappointing thing about this summer spending spree was the fact that each of the four players showed glimpses of quality throughout their time in N17, and before they made the big-money switches to the Premier League.

Injury struggles overshadow Spurs careers

There is no denying that each of the formidable four had quality, but three of them suffered horrific injury problems during their spells with Tottenham.

The trio of Ndombele, Lo Celso and Sessegnon never got going in a Spurs shirt, with lengthy and repetitive injuries causing them plenty of grief throughout their five years in North London. Overall, the former Fulham man has missed a whopping 798 days since he signed his deal with Spurs in the summer of 2019, sitting out of a staggering 127 matches.

His counterparts weren't let off lightly either - Argentinian midfielder Lo Celso suffered slightly less than the Englishman, with Ndombele being let off but still facing a torrid time on the sidelines, with eight separate injuries in his first two years at the club. Combined, the midfield duo missed 84 games throughout their Tottenham career.

Where are they now?

Tanguy Ndombele

New club: OGC Nice

Having been released from his contract at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Ndombele returned to his home country, putting pen to paper on a two-year deal with OGC Nice.

When the deal was announced, Club President Jean-Pierre Rivère stated that "over the course of our meetings, I encountered a charming and motivated young man," so it will certainly be interesting to see whether the Frenchman can return to his very best at the INEOS-backed side.

Jack Clarke

New club: Ipswich Town

Jack Clarke made the switch to Sunderland in the North East when he left The Lilywhites in 2022, but he now finds himself in Suffolk at The Tractor Boys, and in the Premier League where the player has shown he belongs.

He scored 28 times and assisted on 22 occasions during his two-and-a-half seasons in the EFL with The Black Cats, helping them earn promotion back to the Championship. His starring role in their side him earn a move to Ipswich for £15m, plus £20m in add-ons, meaning Tottenham secured £5m from the 25% sell-on clause they inserted into the deal when Clarke left North London.

Giovani Lo Celso

New club: Real Betis

Five years on from swapping Los Verdiblancos for the Premier League, the Argentinian midfielder has returned to his former club for just a fraction of the £42m that Tottenham originally paid for him.

It never worked out for Lo Celso in the capital, and he was shipped out on loan to Villarreal for eighteen months, before finally rekindling some of his best form under Ange Postecoglou. Unfortunately for the two-time Copa America winner, broken promises saw him wanting to leave, and he was granted his wish on deadline day.

Ryan Sessegnon

New club: Fulham

Another player who joined in 2019 and has now completed a full circle is Ryan Sessegnon, who rejoined boyhood club Fulham on a free transfer after a five-year stint at Tottenham Hotspur.

The versatile left-sided player saw his Spurs career plagued by injuries, and fans never got to see the potential he showed during the early years of his Tottenham career at The Cottagers.

A disastrous spending spree that signalled a change in tack from Levy

Judging by the disgust from some Spurs fans, and their blame on Daniel Levy and his "inability" to spend large sums of money, you would expect Spurs have spent very little since their first big window in 2019, but this is far from the truth.

Many have passed the blame to the transfer window in the summer of 2019 when Spurs spent £200m, believing that due to the failure of those summer signings, the chairman now refuses to cough up hefty transfer fees and instead opts for the "cheaper option."

Five years on from announcing the record signing of Tanguy Ndombele, Tottenham broke the stat by completing a £65m deal to sign Dominic Solanke. They have also made the £50m purchase of Brennan Johnson and lumped big fees on Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven (all upwards of £40m).

While some critics still level complaints over Levy's spending, the facts paint a story of consistent spending over the last five years. Since the Champions League final defeat in Madrid, Spurs have spent €645.2m before add-ons were included.

Although some may question the quality of the players purchased, there is no doubt that Levy's now lack of involvement with the football side of transfers, with director Johan Lange and Rob McKenzie now leading the recruitment of players, has led to the creation of a very exciting era on the white side of North London.

Finally, they are competing with their noisy neighbours and it is a matter of time before success finally returns to the club after 16 long years.

Giovani Lo Celso has left Tottenham Hotspur in a permanent deal believed to be worth £8.4m plus add-ons, moving to Real Betis after five years at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The Argentinian has joined his former side, who he departed in 2019 to undergo a move to the Premier League. Unfortunately, despite his clear talent, things never worked out for the attacking midfielder, who leaves The Lilywhites for a cut-price fee, one year before his contract expires.

As part of the deal, and the reason for such a small fee, American international Johnny Cardoso has been included in the transfer, however, it is not the usual straightforward player-plus-cash deal.

Spurs could benefit from the midfielder further down the line in his career, and he may not even have to play for the club, ever. It has been widely reported that Tottenham have agreed a pre-arranged fixed fee of £25.2m for Cardoso, meaning they will have the first option to sign him should another club come circling in the future.

Failing that, if they decide against purchasing him, they will receive a percentage of the fee should the Betis man move elsewhere.

In simple terms, it appears that Lo Celso has been sold, with Spurs retaining a 50% sell-on clause, and the North London side have also been granted ownership of Cardoso, in what can only be described as one of the craziest transfer deals in history.

Who is Cardoso?

Having joined Los Verdiblancos in January, the 22-year-old midfielder made 19 appearances in all competitions during the 2023/24 season and has made a further three at the start of this season.

As a youngster, he had stints at Avaí and Criciúma before playing for the youth academy at Internacional, after he moved to Brazil with his Brazilian parents at the age of three years old.

Cardoso made his professional debut in a 3–1 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A victory over Atlético Mineiro in September 2019, as a 17-year-old, and just over four years later, he got his big move to Europe. He joined Real Betis and took no time at all to settle in.

In 2020, he opted to pledge his allegiance to the USMNT, despite being able to represent Brazil, and has made fifteen caps since.

Standing at six feet tall, the American is a work-horse out of possession, having made an average of 2.2 interceptions per game - the highest amount in the league. He also made 3.2 tackles per 90 last season, ranking 13th out of those who made more than 15 La Liga appearances during 23/24.

Cardoso also possesses immense aerial ability winning an average of 2.6 aerial duels per 90 with a success rate of 60.3%. Last season, Ange Postecoglou's side massively struggled in the air, conceding 14 times from set-pieces in the Premier League alone.

All summer, it has been well-known that The Lilywhites were after a defensive midfielder, and although the left-footed American will not be arriving in N17 this summer, he may prove to be a solid option in transfer windows to come.

Lo Celso neglected under Postecoglou

Giovani Lo Celso felt like a new signing to Tottenham fans at the start of Postecoglou's reign, impressing many with admirable performances throughout pre-season. However, it seemed that normal service had resumed when he came off injured at half-time in his first start of the season.

The Argentine dipped in and out of the match-day squad, until an injury crisis in November gifted him a chance to finally prove his worth, and he took it with open hands and never looked back.

His first start came against Aston Villa, where he scored a thumping half-volley to give the hosts the lead in North London, and although Spurs did not claim all three points, the midfielder was very impressive. A week later, he scored and starred at the Etihad Stadium, as a depleted side fought back to earn a point against Manchester City.

Whenever he was given an opportunity, he excelled, but with James Maddison returning in Janaury, minutes soon faded away. Even though the Englishman was performing well below par, the two-time Copa America champion could not find himself named in the starting lineup, and the promise of regular minutes had been broken.

It all seemed incredibly harsh considering how well Lo Celso performed when he did start last season, and it comes as no surprise that he handed in a transfer request this summer. Considering the potential which fans saw glimpses of, it is a huge shame things never worked out at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Re-acquainting with Betis

For Lo Celso, his main priority will be keeping himself fit in order to play regular first-team football, and he has returned to an environment which will allow him to do exactly that.

Despite playing for Paris Saint Germain, it was his form in Spain which caught the eye of many across Europe, and in particular, his standout 2018/19 season. Having registered 16 goals and six assists in 45 appearances across all competitions, it led to a big-money move to Premier League giants Tottenham.

That season, he helped fire Real Betis into the UEFA Europa League knockout stage, in what was their first appearance in a European competition since the 2013/14 campaign. The tricky playmaker scored five times in just seven games, during that run to the Round of 32.

The physicality of the Premier League never favoured the 57-time Argentinian international, and the more technical side of La Liga will allow him to thrive, as he looks to play his way back into Lionel Scaloni's starting eleven ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is now under two years away.

A chance to play regularly, in a team which suits his abilities to a tee, will hopefully see Giovani Lo Celso get back to his very best.

Mixed showings with Mourinho

Having originally been signed by fellow countrymen Mauricio Pochettino in 2019, his best showings in the early days of his Tottenham career came under the guidance of legendary manager Jose Mourinho.

With Harry Kane out injured at the beginning of 2020, Lo Celso was pivotal in ensuring that his side avoided a horrific drop-off in form, whilst he also ensured Spurs qualified for the Fifth Round of the Emirates FA Cup, after a cracking display at Southampton.

His form continued into lockdown and The Lilywhites looked as though they had secured a gem in their midfield. At the beginning of his second term at the North Londoners, his impressive cameos continued, with the ultimate sign coming when he scored the second in a 2-0 victory over Manchester City, just 35 seconds after coming off the bench.

However, it wasn't all sunshine for Lo Celso at Tottenham, and for the next three years, he was repeatedly loaned out around Europe in a bid to find a permanent buyer and was disliked by Head Coaches Nuno Espirito Santo and Antonio Conte.

Should Lo Celso discover his pre-2021 form, fans around the world will soon start to take note of the player he truly is.