Newcastle United made headlines with their superb win over Spurs at the new Tottenham stadium.
Joelinton notched the only goal of the game and the national newspapers were purring over the striker’s goal – as well as noting how Steve Bruce hit back at the critics with the victory.
Here’s how the national newspapers viewed the win.
THE INDEPENDENT
Tony Evans was mightily impressed by Joelinton, Newcastle’s goalscoring hero.
“The Brazilian was superb,” he wrote.
“If he can maintain this form he will be worth every penny of the £40million that Newcastle paid Hoffenheim for his services. His balance, physicality and touch were exceptional and he provided an effective outlet. He was able to give his defence a breather with his hold-up play and scare the life out of Tottenham’s back line.”
THE GUARDIAN
David Hytner reckoned this would be one of the most satisfying wins of Steve Bruce’s long managerial career.
“Bruce tweaked his system, moving to 3-4-3 or, more accurately, 5-4-1, and he was rewarded,” he wrote.
“ After all the criticism , particularly about his tactics, that had to feel good. His players kept Spurs at arm’s length for much of the game, restricting them to precious few clear chances, but equally they flickered when playing through Joelinton on the counterattack.”
DAILY MAIL
Reporter Ian Ladyman felt – but highlighted Spurs’ weaknesses in breaking down Newcastle’s well-organised defence.
He wrote: “If it’s impossible for a team to be in disarray while Test cricket is still being played then Newcastle have been doing their best to disprove that theory.
“But they snatched this result on the back of a well-taken first half goal from record buy Joelinton and some defensive resolution and organisation. Newcastle did defend very well indeed. Bruce’s players were committed and prepared to work and in centre half Fabian Schar had the best player on the field.
“But the fact is that Tottenham did not ask Newcastle enough questions. Pochettino’s players did not move the ball quickly enough or smartly enough.”
DAILY MIRROR
The Mirror said Bruce’s muted response to winning might have had something to do with the criticism he had taken in the first few weeks of the season.
“On a day of sporting heroics and defiance no one saw this result coming,” wrote Darren Witcoop.
“Not least Steve Bruce, who celebrated at the final whistle with a muted smile and a hug for each of his players as they trooped off looking weary from their considerable exertions.
“For once the visiting Toon Army could be excused for taking their shirts off to celebrate on a gloriously hot day in north London when it was Tottenham who ran out of gas.
“But you can probably understand why Bruce chose not to go over to the away end after the game considering the amount of recent stick he has taken from his own supporters.”
Watch: NUFC players salute fans at the end
THE TELEGRAPH
Writer Sam Wallace highlighted the contribution of Joelinton – who took the game to Spurs.
“Jose Mourinho was in one of the stadium’s executive boxes to see the first goal for Newcastle’s record signing Joelinton, who had a fine all-round game notwithstanding a couple of attempts to stop play with some long lie-downs on the turf while the game went on around him,” he wrote.
“He took the fight to Spurs’ defence on his own and was assisted for his goal by the excellent Christian Atsu, an early substitute for the injured Allan Saint-Maximin.”
