NewcastleWorld

Newcastle United were outplayed for large spells against Tottenham Hotspur but ground out a 2-1 win

Ange Postecoglou claimed a “strong” St James’ Park atmosphere helps Newcastle United earn “little” decisions from referees.

Another tense Toon display saw Eddie Howe’s men grind out a 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur - despite being on the back foot for large spells. Both Newcastle goals came against the run of play but that mattered little to home supporters at the full-time whistle.

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For the third consecutive season, the Magpies put Tottenham to the sword to maintain their unbeaten start to 2024-25. Speaking post-match, Spurs boss Postecoglou praised the Tyneside atmosphere - but insisted it helped sway referee Rob Jones’ performance.

“(It was) very similar, I guess to our first away game when we controlled it for the most part, nullified most of the threats that Newcastle have,” he said. “It's obviously a difficult opponent here at home. The crowd create a pretty strong atmosphere for the home side. Little things go their way but I thought for the most part we handled that really well.

“We gained the ascendancy in the game and just needed to kill it off - we didn't. I thought we switched off a little bit but the game should have been well over by then. When an opposition defence stays deep, it's pretty hard to get in there. There are 10 bodies in there at times. Apart from Isak, everyone else is there (defending).

“We just lacked a little bit of composure. Sometimes our positioning was off where we should have been with work and we let them off the hook. So, another sore one (result) unfortunately where we haven't got the rewards for our play. But ultimately, it's three strong performances from the first three games. The results don't reflect it in that way.”

Alan Shearer has delivered his verdict on Newcastle United’s 2-1 win against Tottenham Hotspur.

Eddie Howe’s side took the lead in the 37th minute when Lloyd Kelly’s cross was directed home by Harvey Barnes, who was making his first Premier League start of the campaign.

Spurs dominated much of the second-half, levelling in the 57th minute when Brennan Johnson’s shot was turned into his own net by Dan Burn. Newcastle’s winner came against the run of play when Jacob Murphy unselfishly set up Alexander Isak after being played in by Joelinton.

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And reacting to the win on X, formerly known as Twitter, Shearer said: “A huge win for the Toon despite not being at their best!!! #NEWTOT“

Newcastle had 33% of the possession and half the amount of shots on target.

Isak added: "Generally we weren't expecting to have too much of the ball. We wanted to be dangerous on the counter-attack. It wasn't the most beautiful game from our side but we defended really well and scored two so that's good.

"You always have to be concentrated. It's easy to get frustrated. It was a tough game and tough for me - I wasn't at my sharpest. Jacob Murphy had a great assist, very selfless, so it was just being in the right place.

"We've always, at home, felt like we have that extra energy. We have spoken about using that. In the second half when we had a bit of a dip in our performance, we got some energy. Small changes made a big difference and really helped us get the win.”

Harvey Barnes opened the scoring in the 37th minute before Spurs levelled shortly after half-time through Dan Burn’s own goal. Alexander Isak then scored the winner inside the remaining quarter of an hour against the run of play.

The win marks the first time Newcastle have won their two opening Premier League home games since the 2000/01 campaign.

The visit of Spurs was Newcastle’s first game since the summer transfer window closed and Lloyd Kelly was the only new face to feature in the starting XI with Will Osula on the bench while Odysseas Vlachodimos and John Ruddy were left out of the matchday squad.

In attack, Howe unleashed Alexander Isak, Harvey Barnes and Anthony Gordon for the first time at St James’ Park since his side hammered Ange Postecoglu’s men 4-0 in April.

Both Isak and Barnes went close to breaking the deadlock in the opening stages but their momentum was halted following a long stoppage that saw fourth official Darren Bond become the linesman. Nick Pope twice had to deny Pape Sarr from distance.

United grew back into the game and got their noses in front in the 37th minute when Kelly’s cross was directed home by Barnes. That saw the home side take a 1-0 lead to half-time.

Spurs dominated much of the second-half and equalised in the 57th minute when Brennan Johnson’s shot was turned into his own net by Dan Burn. The visitors looked more likely to win but Newcastle claimed a winner through Isak.

Our writer Jordan Cronin was at St James’ Park - and here are his Newcastle player ratings:

Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur will be without some key players for this afternoon’s Premier League clash (kick-off 1:30pm).

Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou has confirmed he is without strikers Dominic Solanke and Richarlison, however will welcome back Rodrigo Bentancur following his head injury on the opening day against Leicester City.

Solanke started their 1-1 draw at the King Power Stadium but hasn’t played since due to an ankle injury. Richarlison, meanwhile, picked up an issue in training this week.

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Postecoglou explained: "Rodrigo is all good, he's passed all the protocols we need to, and more importantly he feels really good and the medical team are really comfortable with him being available for Sunday."

“Unfortunately, Dominic Solanke, who also picked up a knock at Leicester and missed last weekend, isn't ready to return - and Ange reported that Richarlison was injured in training this week, and is expected to 'miss the next few weeks'.

"Dom is close but we're going to be a bit cautious with him, we've got a big programme post the international break, so he'll miss out on Sunday. The only other one we got midweek is Richarlison, who unfortunately picked up an injury in training, so he'll probably miss the next few weeks."

Meanwhile, Newcastle are set to be without Joe Willock after he sustained a thigh injury at Nottingham Forest on Wednesday. The midfielder was making his first start since April and opened the scoring after just 18 seconds but needed to be replaced in the 15th minute.

"Joe had a scan yesterday [Thursday], an early scan,” said Howe. “It is relatively good news. I don't think it is a serious injury, but it is early, so we will re-scan again in a few days again just to confirm that."

Callum Wilson remains sidelined with a back injury - he is yet to feature in pre-season or in the opening three games, but could return after the international when the Magpies take on Wolverhampton Wanderers. Lewis Miley, Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles are long-term injuries.

United’s biggest absence is Fabian Schar, who scored in last season’s 4-0 win at St James’ Park, due to suspension.

Schar was shown a straight red card for violent conduct after clashing with Ben Brereton Diaz against Southampton on the opening day. Howe’s side appealed the suspension but it was upheld, resulting in a three-match ban.

Football Association rules state: “A player who, when not challenging for the ball, deliberately strikes an opponent or any other person on the head or face with the hand or arm, is guilty of violent conduct unless the force used was negligible.”

Newcastle argued that the force Schar used when ‘striking’ Brereton Diaz was negligible but an independent panel disagreed.

Newcastle United, with aspirations of qualifying Europe again this year, failed to make any major signings, whereas rivals like West Ham United, Aston Villa and Brighton & Hove Albion did.

Eddie Howe and his squad have been dealt a bad hand for the first-half of the campaign but the Magpies’ head coach has called for unity.

“I understand the fans frustration and I share it,” said Howe. “We’re all in it together. From ownership to me and supporters, we need one united cause - and that’s a cause against everyone we’re playing. What we can’t do as a football club is tear ourselves a part, we have to be united now more than ever. That’s starts from me, to the board and supporters.

“Whatever frustration people will feel, the biggest thing for me is to get behind the players and try and help them in every way. On the matchday, like the supporters have from day one, do the same. I think we are formidable force when we are linked together.”

For all the frustration, Howe’s side have indeed made a respectable start to the season, claiming four points from a possible six against Southampton and AFC Bournemouth, as well as beating Nottingham Forest in the second round of the Carabao Cup - a fixture where Sandro Tonali made his return after his 10-month ban.

United will hope their unbeaten start continues against Spurs today - and here’s the starting XI we’re predicting Howe to name.

Newcastle United welcome Tottenham Hotspur to St James’ Park looking to replicate historic wins in recent seasons

The pundits are split on whether Newcastle United will retain their unbeaten streak in 2024-25.

While the Magpies have been far from convincing, two wins and a draw is a solid start to a campaign. Newcastle advanced via a penalty shoot-out to the Carabao Cup third round in midweek - eliminating Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.

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That came just days after a fortunate trip to Bournemouth where United luckily escaped with a 1-1 draw following a controversial VAR check in stoppage time. A decent yet unconvincing start to the season has the experts divided on how Howe’s side will fare later today.

Paul Merson

“Tottenham had a brilliant result when they beat Everton 4-0 last weekend,” Merson wrote in his SportsKeeda column. “But I’m backing Newcastle to win this one. This is a real test for Spurs, especially considering they’re playing away from home.

“In the past, I’ve seen Tottenham getting destroyed on the road in this particular fixture, so it’s a big test for them psychologically as well. The fans at St James’ Park will definitely be up for this game. It’ll be a different atmosphere there on Sunday.

“Tottenham have a lot to lose here and if they come out of this test unscathed, it’ll be a huge positive for them. That second-half performance against Leicester did not really impress me. That is exactly why I feel Newcastle could beat them in this clash.”

Prediction: Newcastle 2-1 Tottenham

Chris Sutton

“Eddie Howe's team haven't quite clicked,” he told the BBC. “I don't think it's a really settled Eddie Howe because he hasn't got the players in so far which I think he would've wanted.

“I thought Spurs were excellent against Everton. I think there will be goals in this game, there can't not be. But this will be toe-to-toe, this will be like a basketball match. I'm going to back Ange Postecoglou's Spurs.”

Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has provided a positive injury update on Joe Willock.

Willock opened the scoring after just 18 seconds in the Magpies’ Carabao Cup win at Nottingham Forest on Wednesday but had to be replaced in the 15th minute because of a thigh injury.

The 25-year-old look devastated as he left the pitch on what was his first start since April. Last season, Willock was restricted to 14 appearances due a long-term Achilles injury.

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Howe admitted after the Forest game that the midfielder’s injury didn’t look good. But 48 hours on, United’s initial fears have seemingly been allayed.

"Joe had a scan yesterday [Thursday], an early scan,” said Howe. “It is relatively good news. I don't think it is a serious injury, but it is early, so we will re-scan again in a few days again just to confirm that."

The former Arsenal midfielder is expected to miss Sunday’s Premier League clash against Tottenham Hotspur at St James’ Park, as is striker Callum Wilson, who is recovering from the back injury he sustained during the second week of pre-season.

It is hoped the 31-year-old can return in time for the visit to Wolverhampton Wanderers after the international break.

“Callum will be early season, a couple of games in I think,” Howe said on Tuesday. He’s making really good progress. He feels good and wants to push a bit faster but we’re just trying to manage his comeback.”

Meanwhile, Fabian Schar is suspended while Lewis Miley, Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles are long-term injuries.

Former Newcastle United co-owner Amanda Staveley has declined to comment on speculation regarding a potential investment in Tottenham Hotspur.

Bloomberg reported earlier this month that Staveley’s PCP Partners have raised £500million to invest in football with several clubs being looked at. Initial talks are said to have taken place with Rothschild & Co, an adviser to Spurs, over purchasing a minority stake.

The news came less than a week after Staveley and husband Mehrdad Ghodoussi left Newcastle with their 5.7% acquired by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia and RB Sports & Media. The new structure sees PIF hold an 85% stake while RB Sports & Media increased their stake to 15%.

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When asked about the Tottenham Hotspur links, Staveley told The Athletic: “Not much, I’m afraid. My preference would have been to stay with Newcastle, but life doesn’t always work out exactly how you want it to. Nothing is going to replicate that. I fell in love with Newcastle, the club and the people and that can’t change, but I didn’t want to get in Newcastle’s way. It’s got to be about what’s best for Newcastle.

“Mehrdad and I are keen to be hands-on. We’re hard-working people, I love to be very busy and to engage and I love football. Very sadly, we have to move on to other projects and that might involve us taking a stake in another club or buying another club and that’s difficult. But it’s possible.

“I don’t know what my future holds, but you can never move on from the love I have for Newcastle and I would love to come back for matches. I’m a Geordie now. I’m a Yorkshire Geordie, but I will always have that chemistry and that love.”

Staveley played a significant role in the £305m takeover of the Magpies in October 2021 before leading the club’s operations. A number of key positions have since been filled with Darren Eales as Chief Executive, Peter Silverstone as Chief Commercial Officer, Simon Capper as Chief Financial Officer, while Paul Mitchell was recently appointed as sporting director and James Bunce as performance director.

Amanda Staveley left Newcastle United a fortnight ago and has been linked with an instant return to Tottenham Hotspur

Football financial expert Stefan Borson has condemned Amanda Staveley to Tottenham Hotspur as “nonsense” despite recent reports.

Just days after the former minority owner left Tyneside, Bloomberg claimed she had expressed interest in Spurs. Chairman Daniel Levy publicly appealed to potential investors in April.

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The article claimed Staveley had raised £500million from investments and is keen to remain in football. Her involvement in brokering Manchester City’s and Newcastle’s historic takeovers makes the Ripon-based executive one of the most powerful women in English football.

A turbulent few months have included off-field legal battles - most notably with Greek shipping magnate Victor Restis - and Staveley selling her six per cent stake in Newcastle. The possibility of her returning to the fore with Spurs was met by jeers from Toon fans on social media.

However, monetary guru Borson is not convinced, questioning whether Staveley would accept a lesser role in North London. He told Football Insider: “It sounds like nonsense to me. It seems unlikely that she would go from a position of very significant influence to a very serious minority at Tottenham.

“Everybody in football knows Tottenham is available for investment or a sale at the right price. But they have very significant expectations on value, probably something like eight to nine times what Staveley and PIF paid for Newcastle.

“I think it’s pretty unlikely that she’s come out of Newcastle at whatever valuation she has, where she was clearly very influential and is just going to accept a very insignificant role at Spurs.”

Amanda Staveley’s departure from Newcastle United is now official.

Documents shared on Companies House on Monday confirmed the ‘Termination of Appointment of Amanda Louise Staveley as a director July 12, 2024’. It comes less than a fortnight after the Magpies announced changes to its ownership structure. The Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia and RB Sports & Media have acquired Staveley’s 5.7% stake. PIF now own 85% of the club while RB Sports & Media hold 15%.

Staveley, along with husband Mehrdad Ghodoussi, have stepped down from their respective operation roles at St James’ Park ahead of plotting their next business venture.

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Speaking about the pair’s departure last week, Newcastle CEO Darren Eales said: “A huge thank you to Amanda and Mehrdad for all they did. They were the ownership rather than the day to day and the management team are in place now. We’ve just had Paul Mitchell in as sporting director, Brad Miller as our chief operating officer so I feel like now we’ve actually got that c-suite team together to manage the club going forwards.

“They were a great help and a great resource because they were committed, they were keen. So from that perspective, you know, they were super helpful in terms of being people that cared about the club. But from an operational, day-to-day side they were ownership.

“This was an ownership decision jointly, a mutual decision. I think business opportunities, for Amanda and Mehrdad moving forward in terms of pursuing some other business ventures which I’m excited to see because they are very motivated. They’re a force of nature so I’m excited to see what they do next.

"Amanda and Mehrdad were very loved by the club and what a great job they did in terms of bringing an ownership group together. They were diligent, they stuck at it and had the tenacity to bring the takeover through so they are always going to be in the hearts of Newcastle fans for what they did.”

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According to Bloomberg, Staveley has Tottenham Hotspur as of a potential business opportunity.

Staveley’s PCP Capital Partners have reportedly raised £500m to invest in football and a number of clubs are being looked at. Despite leaving Tyneside, she remained well-connected in the gulf region having played a key role in both the Magpies and Manchester City’s takeovers in 2021 and 2008 respectively.

Bloomberg also understands that Ligue 1 side AS Monaco is one of a number of club which Staveley is keeping tabs on as she considers her next business venture.