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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.

Ange Postecoglou believes he has been backed in the transfer window ahead of the market closing later today.

Spurs are not expected to sign anyone else this window, but they have already brought in Dominic Solanke, Archie Gray, Wilson Odobert and Lucas Bergvall.

Postecoglou, who turned 59 this week, is happy with how the squad has been shaped this window, with the age demographic of the squad continually lowering.

"If nothing else happens — a couple will still be moving out — I think it's been another positive window for us. [Each window] you want to come out of it in a stronger sense. I certainly feel that," the Australian outlined.

"The players we brought in are making a short-term impact, but - even for the longer term - they will be really good contributors for us. We have a really well-rounded squad to deal with the extra games and whatever injuries we have. It's been a really pleasant window."

The former Celtic manager, who jokingly said he thinks will get a warm reception when Spurs travel to Rangers in the Europa League, continued that a lot of work has been done since he arrived.

"I'm very happy. I think we've done a lot of work in the last 12 months. No doubt the squad has changed — the demographic has changed and [for] the suitability of the style of football I want to play, we are certainly more adapted for that," he stated.

"We needed to do some fairly major work 12 months ago, but there's still work to be done. I don't think it should happen quickly. When it does happen quickly, I think you are more likely to get it wrong."

Postecoglou later added that he believes he has been backed, and that he always looks at the long-term plan when thinking about transfers.

"When you plan to rebuild a team, all managers hope they are here for the long term. But, the reality is that you do not know how long you will be there," the manager stated.

"I have always tried to build a team that will last over a cycle, which is three/four/five years. As a natural consequence of that, you are looking at a younger demographic — a team that will grow, improve and adapt to the challenges ahead.

"When I got here, it was a team that looked like it was at the end of the cycle. Players who had great careers but were ready to move on or getting to the end. That combination, with a different approach, was part of the plan to go younger."

Tottenham's poor record against Newcastle recently

Tottenham's last two trips to St James' Park have been journeys to forget. They lost 4-0 last season, whilst - a year prior - they were humiliated during a 6-1 defeat.

In both situations, they have crumbled under pressure, and the Australian has consistently talked about wanting his time to learn from previous experiences ahead of Sunday's match. In his pre-match press conference, he outlined what went wrong in the North-East in April.

"[There was] a bit of a contrast. Here at home, we did really well against them, but, up there, we didn't. It was a good learning curve for us. We started the game ok and then we conceded. We lost, our first time all year, our composure in the game and we allowed them to score quickly. We know what it's like up there," he said.

"The crowd created a brilliant atmosphere for their team and we did not handle it well. It was a good learning curve. We want to learn from that, but it's still a tough game any time you go up and play Newcastle.

"They have got some outstanding players in their team, they are well-coached and it's going to be a great challenge."

Tottenham Hotspur will face Sky Bet Championship opposition in Coventry City in the Third Round of the Carabao Cup, having been drawn away to the Sky Blues.

The tie will take place at the Coventry Building Society Arena and will be played the week commencing 16th September, with exact details to be announced in due course. The cup clash comes sandwiched between Premier League home matches with Arsenal and Brentford.

This will be Spurs' first trip to the CBS Arena stadium, having played and beaten Coventry at their old Highfield Road ground in September 2003 - a 0-3 victory in the League Cup.

In the past two seasons, The Lilywhites have failed to reach the Fourth Round of this competition, losing at Fulham on penalties in Round Two last time out, and at Nottingham Forest at this stage of the competition the season before that.

Throughout the previous four editions of the Carabao Cup, Tottenham have been drawn against non-Premier League opposition just once at this stage - that came in 2020. Spurs were pitted to face Leyton Orient, but the tie never took place, with the North Londoners given a bye due to The O's having COVID cases amongst the group.

Familiar face returning

James Maddison will be returning to his old stomping ground, having progressed through the ranks at the Coventry Building Society Arena as a youth player.

The Englishman made his City first-team debut in 2014, coming off the bench during a League Cup clash with Cardiff City, before making his first start, as an 18-year-old, two games later. During that game, he scored his first-ever professional goal and one month later, he put pen to paper on his first professional contract.

Two years later, after scoring four goals in 24 appearances, the attacking midfielder made the switch to Norwich City, although he was immediately loaned back to his boyhood club for the 2015/16 season.

Maddison has played against his former club on just one occasion throughout his career, and that came whilst in East Anglia, and funnily enough, in this exact competition too. During the 6-1 rout, the ex-Coventry man registered two assists.

Old foes reunite

Tottenham and Coventry have plenty of history in cup competitions.

In the 1987 FA Cup Final, the Sky Blues pipped David Pleat's men with an extra-time victory, following Gary Mabbutt's 96th-minute own goal, as 96,000 people crammed into the Old Wembley Stadium.

The Lilywhites went ahead after two minutes through Clive Allen but David Bennett equalised seven minutes later. Gary Mabbutt regained the advantage four minutes before the break, but just after the hour mark Spurs were pegged back for the second time as Keith Houchen scored for Coventry City. In extra time, Mabbutt was on the scoresheet again, but this time at the wrong end, meaning his side succumbed to a defeat.

These two sides last met in the cup eleven years ago, with the Premier League side winning 3-0 in an FA Cup Third Round tie - a Clint Dempsey brace and Gareth Bale strike enough to secure a safe passage through to the next stage.

Spurs' mixed League Cup fortunes

The Carling Cup was the last trophy the club won, way back in 2008 - a measly sixteen years ago.

A Jonathan Woodgate goal in extra-time saw Spurs beat fierce London rivals Chelsea by two goals to one after Dimitar Berbatov's 70th-minute penalty had cancelled out Didier Drogba's first-half opener.

Since the victorious run during the 2007/08 season, The Lilywhites have lost three finals in this competition, and have made it to within one step from Wembley on two other occasions. The final defeats came against both Manchester clubs in 2009 and 2021, and Chelsea in 2015.

However, one of the worst moments for Tottenham in this competition, and one of the most embarrassing nights in the club's history, came under Mauricio Pochettino in September 2019.

The Argentinian tactician fielded a heavily weakened side as Spurs made the trip to Essex to take on Colchester United, and the U's held their gargantuan opponents all the way to a penalty shootout. Christian Eriksen and Lucas Moura failed to score, meaning the League Two outfit produced one of the greatest shocks the competition has ever seen.

Spurs will be looking to avoid a potential banana skin at the Coventry Building Society Arena in September.

After one year of Ange Postecoglou's reign as Tottenham Hotspur Head Coach, the Australian has already disbanded the five-man leadership group which was set up by the previous permanent manager, Antonio Conte.

That group consisted of five players. Former club and France captain Hugo Lloris and England captain Harry Kane spearheaded the quintet, whilst Eric Dier, Pierre-Emile Højbjerg and Oliver Skipp were also involved.

However, after the latest transfer window advancements, not one of these players remains in N17, with the entire first-team department at the club looking extremely different.

Where are they now?

Hugo Lloris

New club: LAFC

Having held the post as club captain for eight years, the Frenchmen was stripped of his duties when Ange Postecoglou arrived in N17 in August 2023 - signing Guglielmo Vicario as his new number one and appointing Heung-Min Son as the new skipper.

Lloris failed to secure a move away during the Australian's first summer in charge, continuing to train with the first team until December when he made the switch to Los Angeles, joining LAFC ion a free transfer.

Having spent a measly twelve years in North London, the former Lyon shot-stopper was given a rousing send-off on New Year's Eve when Spurs beat Bournemouth 3-1.

Harry Kane

New club: Bayern Munich

Tottenham's all-time leading goalscorer would have stepped up from his role as vice-captain, had he not left the club on the eve of Postecoglou's first competitive game in charge.

Kane made the switch to the German giants after a lengthy saga, bringing an end to his record-breaking, fourteen-year career with The Lilywhites, although Daniel Levy has confirmed that there is a buy-back clause in the deal, so perhaps his fairytale with his boyhood side is not over, yet.

Eric Dier

New club: Bayern Munich

The defender, formerly of Sporting Lisbon, followed Kane's move to mainland Europe, linking up with his former teammate at Bayern Munich less than six months after the duo were split up.

Dier was a crucial part of Antonio Conte's side and was a mainstay in the back three throughout the Italian's reign, but was unfavoured by Ange Postecoglou. Often, the Englishman was not included in the match-day squad but did get two opportunities to feature during a defensive injury crisis, and he did well considering the circumstances.

Unfortunately, the damage was already done, and Dier moved on to pastures new in the January transfer window. He was presented with a commemorative gift, thanking him for his ten years of service to The Lilywhites, when the two sides met in a pre-season friendly at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in August 2024.

Pierre-Emile Højbjerg

New club: Olympique Marseille

Although he is yet to officially leave the club, the Dane's departure is all but confirmed after he joined Ligue 1 outfit Marseille on a season-long loan deal which entailed an obligation to buy.

The midfielder was a major contributor to the early success of Antonio Conte's side but was viewed as nothing more than a squad player under Ange Postecoglou. Playing second-fiddle to Yves Bissouma for the majority of the 23/24 season, Højbjerg has now left the club as he seeks regular first-team football, which a player of his calibre deserves.

Oliver Skipp

New club: Leicester City

The last man standing - Oliver Skipp was the final player of the five-man leadership group to leave North London.

A boyhood Tottenham fan, the 23-year-old made the permanent switch to the East Midlands on the day Spurs' new campaign got underway, as Postecoglou continues to overhaul his squad. It did, however, come as a surprising move, with Skipp often favoured by fans and the Australian Head Coach, and Tottenham suffering mass issues meeting the homegrown quota for the UEFA Europs League squad.

New Head Coach, new dynamics

The arrival of Ange Postecoglou, just over a year ago, has brought about many changes within the first-team squad at Tottenham Hotspur.

Firstly, he has overseen a mass overhaul of both the playing squad and his coaching team, whilst also making many different changes to the dynamics of the squad. From the get-go, the former Celtic boss touched on how he leaves the players to their own devices in the dressing room, with control solely resting on the shoulders of his leadership team

This was the first major change made, a new leadership group. Within his first two months, he had appointed three new captains - Heung-Min Son became club captain, whilst Cristian Romero and new £40m man James Maddison were given the duty of vice-captain.

Now, thirteen months later, all five of the players who took up senior roles within the group when Postecoglou put pen to paper have left North London.

Squad overhaul

Upon joining in June 2023, Ange Posteoclgou identified that key changes needed to happen if he was to bring success to the club.

In three transfer windows - with one of those still open - thirteen players have been permanently sold or released, including the likes of Hugo Lloris, Ivan Perisic and Tanguy Ndombele being offloaded, saving millions in the wage budget every week.

Amongst those outgoings are players such as Eric Dier, Ryan Sessegnon, Japhet Tanganga and Emerson Royal, who have all previously been told they had no place in the plans. This is a change from recent years, where Daniel Levy had tended to hold out for higher prices, ending up being unable to sell the deadwood.

Since Postecoglou joined Spurs, a mass transformation has occurred. The annual wage bill is down from £144m to £107m, with the average age of the squad being reduced from 27.0 years old to 24.5 years old.

Having made sixteen senior signings too, there is further evidence of change and future growth. After Wilson Odobert's move from Burnley was sealed, the average age of those incomings was 21.8 years old. The Frenchman is also the sixth teenager to be signed, alongside the likes of the exciting Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall, to name a couple.

Having enjoyed a promising opening weekend of the season, which saw both Wayne Burnett's Under 21s and Stuart Lewis' Under 18s pick-up victories, the second game week of their respective campaigns possessed a different outcome across the board.

The Under 21s, who won both the Premier League 2 League Phase and Play-Offs last term, tasted their first defeat of the season against Newcastle United at Stevenage's Lamex Stadium on Sunday, as they fell on the wrong side of a narrow defeat.

As for the Under 18s, they beat Fulham in a goal-heavy contest to make it two wins from two at the start of their Premier League season

Under 21s - Tottenham 0-1 Newcastle

The Development Team fell behind due to an early strike from Magpies forward Ben Parkinson, after captain George Abbott was caught in possession in the middle of the park. The versatile Englishman - who made his first-team debut in a 1-4 victory at Leeds United in May 2023 - attempted to turn away from his marker but was dispossessed leading to a chance for Parkinson to go one-on-one, and he slotted past the onrushing Jack Keeley.

Last season's champions dominated the majority of the first half, with Damola Ajayi having the first chance of the game three minutes before the Young Lilywhites went behind. Despite trailing, the opportunities continued to flow and Leo Black tested Newcastle goalkeeper Aidan Harris in the 24th minute.

Following this, midfielder Callum Olusesi thought he had equalised shortly before the half-hour mark, but was denied by an offside from the assistant referee.

Plenty more chances fell Tottenham's way throughout the remainder of the match - Jaden Williams and Leo Black failed to capitalise in the first half, prior to half-time substitute Jahziah Linton coming agonisingly close just six minutes into his cameo.

Late on, Oliver Irow headed wide and then couldn't find the back of the net after Rio Kyerematen's inch-perfect through ball, meaning a lack of ruthlessness in front of goal cost the Under 21s from picking up a result at the Lamex.

Speaking to SPURSPLAY after the full-time whistle, Head Coach Wayne Burnett was 'disappointed', and said that his side "have to find a way and be better" after wasting several fine chances throughout the ninety.

Under 18s - Fulham 1-5 Tottenham

Another manic goal-fest followed the Under 18s 6-4 opening weekend victory against Crystal Palace, this time as they beat Fulham in a 6-goal thriller away from home.

Spurs travelled to Motspur Park, which has been an unhappy stomping ground in recent seasons, with a young side that included many first-year scholars. Two changes were made, with former Manchester City defender Romeo Egan-Riley and Ronny Moncur, grandson of John Moncur, displacing the suspended Malachi Hardy and Tynan Thompson.

Ellis Lehane had put Stuart Lewis' side ahead in the opening 45 minutes with his third goal in two games, but a goal from Basmil Lubega levelled the game up ahead of the interval.

After the break, we pulled away from the hosts, with a quickfire double from Moncur and Williams-Barnett, before further strikes from attackers Herbie James and George Feeney - his first Spurs goal - rounded off the scoring.

A brilliant victory away from home, with the Young Lilywhites now sitting top of their Under 18 Premier League South division, having scored eleven goals in just 180 minutes of football.

Young Lilywhites on loan

Tottenham have three youngsters who are plying their trade up and down the English football pyramid on loan - here's how they got on with their respective sides over the weekend.

Jamie Donley - Leyton Orient

The 19-year-old's home debut came against recently relegated Birmingham City, and saw the midfielder go up against former Spurs Senior Assistant Coach Chris Davies.

Donley completed the full ninety, creating three chances and making three recoveries, but was on the end of a 1-2 loss at Brisbane Road.

Matthew Craig - Barnsley

The Tottenham loanee was not involved in the squad as The Tykes drew 2-2 with Northampton Town.

Carey Bloedorn - Aveley

Goalkeeper Bloedorn was not involved in either of Aveley's losses against Eastbourne Borough and Slough Town, as The Millers played two games in three days on Bank Holiday weekend.

Up next

The Under 18s are next in action, hosting Leeds United at Hotspur Way on Tuesday 27th August.

Meanwhile, Wayne Burnett's Under 21 team will make the trip to Southampton's Staplewood training base on Friday, with league action under the lights awaiting them in a 19:00 kick-off (BST).

Goals from Yves Bissouma, Cristian Romero and a brace from captain Heung-min Son deservedly earned Tottenham their first win of the season and only their third clean sheet in the calendar year.

In addition to their 3-0 home defeat against Brighton last weekend, Everton, who only made one change, were humbled as Spurs began their season at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in style.

Story of the Match

Ange Postecoglou's players came out of the traps with purpose and intent, and Jordan Pickford's goal was under siege from the first whistle.

Romero's half-volley was straight down the throat of the Englishman and James Maddison spurned a glorious chance after beating the offside trap, but Pickford was equal that too.

But, after a plethora of chances in the opening ten minutes, Tottenham opened the scoring through an unlikely source. Following his return from an internal club suspension, Bissouma recorded his first goal in Lilywhite in sumptuous fashion.

Neat footwork from Dejan Kulusevski created a yard of space for the Swede to tee up the Mali international, who connected sweetly to sweep the ball into the top corner off the crossbar.

Bissouma's celebration spoke a thousand words. An apologetic wave of the hand to the Spurs faithful and a grateful bear hug with his manager indicated his remorse following some social media controversy.

The advantage was doubled shortly after and it was a moment to forget for England’s number one. The incessant press of Heung-min Son and a combination of Pickford taking too long to release the ball resulted in disaster for the Toffees' stopper.

The South Korean consistently hounded the Englishman in moments leading up to the incident and Pickford eventually crumbled under the pressure, gifting Son the simple task of rolling the ball into the empty net.

It was an encouraging debut for latest signing Wilson Odobert, who was a surprise inclusion in the starting berth. The Frenchman asked several questions of his Everton counterpart and fellow debutant Roman Dixon.

In the closing stages of the first period, the visitors finally introduced themselves in the contest. A flurry of set pieces resulted in a goal mouth scramble, but Spurs defended bravely to ensure Sean Dyche's team did not get a foothold back into the game.

In the second half, the tempo dropped, with Spurs looking to control possession to avoid a repeat of the situation that occurred on Monday night against Leicester City.

But they reignited the impetus that they started with and eventually made one of their twelve corners count to put the game beyond doubt.

Maddison whipped a delightful delivery into the centre of the six-yard box, which was met by fellow vice captain Romero. His header kissed the crossbar on the way in, leaving Pickford with no chance.

The rout was completed with roughly a quarter of an hour to go and this one was the pick of the bunch.

Spurs broke at frightening pace with Micky van de Ven carrying the ball all of 60 yards from one box to the other. The Dutchman's sheer pace and athleticism transformed defence into attack in an instant.

After the slaloming run, van de Ven still had the presence of mind to find his teammate Son, who doubled his tally with typical potency. It looked as if the 32-year-old had taken the ball too wide, but he still managed to find a gap to round off the scoring from a tight angle.

There was a slight injury concern for Tottenham as full back Destiny Udogie was forced off through injury with a quarter of the match to go.

The Italian was instrumental in Spurs' unprecedented start to a Premier League campaign last year, so Postecoglou will be hoping his early departure was merely precautionary.

Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall were introduced into the fray in the closing stages of the game for their home debut and they provided that touch of composure to ensure the shutout was obtained.

Four goals, three points and a clean sheet. Afternoon's do not get much better than that for Ange Postecoglou and Tottenham Hotspur.

Player of the Match - Yves Bissouma

It was a big game for Bissouma, having served a club sanctioned suspension for the opening match for filming himself inhaling nitrous oxide, but he showed excellent maturity to put in a starring role.

Recycling possession well and commanding the midfield, a first ever goal for Spurs goal was the icing on the cake in a performance he desperately needed. Consistency from here on in is next on the agenda.

Goals from Yves Bissouma, Cristian Romero and a brace from captain Heung-min Son deservedly earned Tottenham their first win of the season and only their third clean sheet in the calendar year.

In addition to their 3-0 home defeat against Brighton last weekend, Everton, who only made one change, were humbled as Spurs began their season at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in style.

Story of the Match

Ange Postecoglou's players came out of the traps with purpose and intent, and Jordan Pickford's goal was under siege from the first whistle.

Romero's half-volley was straight down the throat of the Englishman and James Maddison spurned a glorious chance after beating the offside trap, but Pickford was equal that too.

But, after a plethora of chances in the opening ten minutes, Tottenham opened the scoring through an unlikely source. Following his return from an internal club suspension, Bissouma recorded his first goal in Lilywhite in sumptuous fashion.

Neat footwork from Dejan Kulusevski created a yard of space for the Swede to tee up the Mali international, who connected sweetly to sweep the ball into the top corner off the crossbar.

Bissouma's celebration spoke a thousand words. An apologetic wave of the hand to the Spurs faithful and a grateful bear hug with his manager indicated his remorse following some social media controversy.

The advantage was doubled shortly after and it was a moment to forget for England’s number one. The incessant press of Heung-min Son and a combination of Pickford taking too long to release the ball resulted in disaster for the Toffees' stopper.

The South Korean consistently hounded the Englishman in moments leading up to the incident and Pickford eventually crumbled under the pressure, gifting Son the simple task of rolling the ball into the empty net.

It was an encouraging debut for latest signing Wilson Odobert, who was a surprise inclusion in the starting berth. The Frenchman asked several questions of his Everton counterpart and fellow debutant Roman Dixon.

In the closing stages of the first period, the visitors finally introduced themselves in the contest. A flurry of set pieces resulted in a goal mouth scramble, but Spurs defended bravely to ensure Sean Dyche's team did not get a foothold back into the game.

In the second half, the tempo dropped, with Spurs looking to control possession to avoid a repeat of the situation that occurred on Monday night against Leicester City.

But they reignited the impetus that they started with and eventually made one of their twelve corners count to put the game beyond doubt.

Maddison whipped a delightful delivery into the centre of the six-yard box, which was met by fellow vice captain Romero. His header kissed the crossbar on the way in, leaving Pickford with no chance.

The rout was completed with roughly a quarter of an hour to go and this one was the pick of the bunch.

Spurs broke at frightening pace with Micky van de Ven carrying the ball all of 60 yards from one box to the other. The Dutchman's sheer pace and athleticism transformed defence into attack in an instant.

After the slaloming run, van de Ven still had the presence of mind to find his teammate Son, who doubled his tally with typical potency. It looked as if the 32-year-old had taken the ball too wide, but he still managed to find a gap to round off the scoring from a tight angle.

There was a slight injury concern for Tottenham as full back Destiny Udogie was forced off through injury with a quarter of the match to go.

The Italian was instrumental in Spurs' unprecedented start to a Premier League campaign last year, so Postecoglou will be hoping his early departure was merely precautionary.

Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall were introduced into the fray in the closing stages of the game for their home debut and they provided that touch of composure to ensure the shutout was obtained.

Four goals, three points and a clean sheet. Afternoon's do not get much better than that for Ange Postecoglou and Tottenham Hotspur.

Player of the Match - Yves Bissouma

It was a big game for Bissouma, having served a club sanctioned suspension for the opening match for filming himself inhaling nitrous oxide, but he showed excellent maturity to put in a starring role.

Recycling possession well and commanding the midfield, a first ever goal for Spurs goal was the icing on the cake in a performance he desperately needed. Consistency from here on in is next on the agenda.