So that’s your lot! David Hytner was at Wembley; here’s his report. Enjoy!
And finally Poch. “It was a tough game, because after Newcastle beat Manchester City they had momentum and belief. It was a fantastic effort, I am so happy for my players. It showed the talent we have. Son is doing fantastic for us, his performance and the way he believes. Our squad must have massive credit. We were disappointed after the Carabao Cup and FA Cup, it was the worst moment for us. But we were always positive and we fight. We are now in a good position, and in the Champions League too. In football all is possible.”
And now Rafa. “We did well out wide in the first half, we had chances at the beginning of the second half. But they were pushing and pushing, and we had to be better on the ball. The goal we could have avoided. You have to give credit to Son, because it was a good shot, but we could have done better. Tottenham are a very good team, they have some of the best players in England. It was not easy for us. If we work as hard as we did today, we can improve.”
Fabian Schar talks. “It is a big frustration for us. We fought, they had some chances but so did we. We were so close to a point until that unlucky goal. It would have been a big point, so it’s a big disappointment. We knew the longer the game went, they would press because they had to win, and we had some counter attacks. It was good to keep the ball out [by clearing off the line] but we have no point. I think we are on the right way, but we still have to do a lot of work. There are some games coming where we can win, so we have to be focused.”
Son speaks! “Of course I am tired, but the two games were very important. And with the six points, I think we have had a great week. It was a difficult game but we are very happy and we deserved this one. We tried to get the goal, but football is not easy and we had to wait. Luckily I had the chance and I’m very grateful for my team-mates. The team-mates and coaching staff give me confidence. I enjoy every second in the Premier League.”
A third late winner in a row for Spurs. The sort of run that makes teams think: this could be our season. They’ll be dreaming again, and feeling very good about themselves after a difficult week in the cups. They’re second on 57 points, four behind Liverpool and one clear of Manchester City. We’ve got a real title race on our hands this season, folks!
Newcastle meanwhile remain in 14th place, on 24 points. They’re five clear of the drop zone, and will be cursing Martin Dubravka’s late mistake. Another precious point would have done very nicely. But although they rode their luck at times this afternoon, and Spurs were ultimately deserved winners, they acquitted themselves very well at the home of a serious title contender. If Salomon Rondon’s header had gone in, it could have been so different. Surely they have more than enough talent to escape relegation.
FULL TIME: Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Newcastle United
Tottenham’s title challenge looked over a couple of weeks ago. But now they’re in second place, above Manchester City, and breathing down Liverpool’s neck! Just four points off the top! And a first title since 1961 is still very much on!
90 min +3: Newcastle knock it about, but only where Tottenham let them, in the middle of the park. But suddenly Rondon flicks on a long ball. Longstaff is hovering, just inside the box, but Lloris comes out to clear.
90 min +2: Yedlin looks to zip past Rose on the right, but he’s brought down in full flight. The referee thinks it was a fair 50-50 challenge, and play is waved on. Yedlin isn’t too happy.
90 min +1: Perez clumsily clips Rose’s ankles, allowing Spurs to run the clock down further.
90 min: Lascelles is panicked into hoicking over his own crossbar. Eriksen takes his sweet time over the corner, in the game-management style. There will be four added minutes. Can Spurs hold on? Or will Newcastle save themselves?
89 min: To be fair to Dubravka, Son’s shot had a lot of dip and swerve. But it was straight at him. Anyway, the goalscorer is off, replaced by Dier.
87 min: Son chases a lost cause down the inside-left channel. Dubravka, his head muddled, slides out and gets to the ball ahead of Son, but only clips it to Llorente, who should slam home ... but whacks wide left of an unguarded goal.
86 min: Ritchie is replaced by the Newcastle debutant Barreca.
85 min: Newcastle look sickened to a man, and no wonder: that was an appalling mistake by Dubravka. They look to respond, Longstaff winning a free kick out on the right. But the set piece is wasted. Wembley is in fine voice now.
GOAL! Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Newcastle United (Son 83)
Llorente brings the ball down on the edge of the Newcastle box. He tees it up for Son, who shifts to the right and then batters low and hard towards goal. Dubravka should parry at the very least; claim probably. But he lets the shot squirt under his hands. Into the net it flies. And Tottenham’s title challenge is on!
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82 min: Newcastle replace Atsu with Ritchie.
81 min: Sissoko strides down the left and wins a corner off Lejeune. Trippier takes, and loops it into the mixer. Llorente sidefoots towards goal, but the ball pinballs around in a preposterous style, somehow staying out of the net. A good clearing header from Ritchie, there. Newcastle have had some close scrapes this afternoon, and that’s right up there with them.
79 min: Hayden goes off, and comes back on. He’s OK to continue.
78 min: Before the action restarts, Tottenham replace Lamela with Rose.
77 min: Hayden is down requiring some treatment. Time for both teams to take on some water.
75 min: Spurs press Newcastle back some more. But as much as Eriksen, Son and Lamela work, they can’t jemmy any space. Newcastle continue to hold firm.
73 min: A little space for Llorente just inside the Newcastle box. But he can’t sort his feet out. Then Perez goes wheeching up the right, but he’s stopped in his tracks by Sanchez. A suggestion that Sanchez might have used an arm to block his man, but there’s no free kick.
71 min: Trippier floats in a cross from the right. Spurs have sent plenty of men into the box, so Newcastle are happy to see Dubravka come off his line to claim amid a packed box. Newcastle zip upfield, Perez nearly scooting clear down the inside-right channel. But Lloris comes out to intercept and clear. Then Eriksen sends a diagonal ball into the Newcastle box from the right. Llorente is free, but clanks a dismal header high and wide right. He squints into the sun, theatrically blaming the conditions.
69 min: There’s plenty of noise from both fans at Wembley. And yet you can still hear Rafa Benitez loudly micromanaging his men from the touchline! Newcastle respond well, falling into shape, Trippier eventually forced into conceding possession with a desperate speculative long pass. Goal kick.
67 min: Yedlin is booked for a deliberate handball out on the right. The resulting free kick ins a total waste of time. Newcastle go up the other end, Perez sidefooting a curler towards the top right from 20 yards. Lloris does extremely well to turn the shot round the post for a corner. Nothing comes of that either. This is marvellous end-to-end fun now. Both teams will wonder how they’re yet to score.
65 min: Son and Lamela take turns to dribble around in the Newcastle area. The visitors look extremely nervous again. The ball is bundled out for a corner on the left. It’s flicked on at the near post by Son, and Eriksen contorts himself to back-heel it towards the bottom-right from close range. It’s going in, but Schar sticks out a telescopic leg to whip it away from the line! What a clearance!
63 min: Son and Longstaff contest a ball on the edge of the Newcastle box. Longstaff wins the challenge and strides off, only to get a slap in the mush from Son. All accidental, but it’s a chance for Longstaff to go down, buying time for his team-mates to regroup. They’d been chasing shadows for a few minutes.
62 min: Spurs really have stepped it up. Trippier and Son cause Newcastle all manner of bother down the right, with their cute flicks and overlapping runs. Newcastle hold out, but the hosts are beginning to ask questions again.
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60 min: Spurs make the first switch of the day, Lucas Moura making way for the hero of Wednesday night against Watford, Fernando Llorente.
58 min: Spurs up their game! Lifting the pace a bit, they ping it around to pull Newcastle this way and that. Then Eriksen slides a ball down the inside right for Trippier, whose low cross is hacked clear just in time by Hayden with Son ready to pull the trigger from six yards. That’s got the crowd going, too; they had also been a little flat since the restart.
57 min: Lascelles and Lucas contest a long ball down the Spurs right. Lascelles brushes Lucas into touch and shepherds the ball out for a goal kick. The body language of the two men is instructive: Lascelles strides back upfield with purpose, while Lucas hangs his head a little and trudges back onto the pitch. Spurs need to up their game.
55 min: Yedlin is again sent scampering down the right. His cross, intended for Rondon, is only half cleared, then Sissoko gifts possession to Ritchie instead of blootering clear. Ritchie sends a shot towards the bottom left from distance, but it’s an easy claim for Lloris. Newcastle look a much more potent attacking force now.
54 min: Lamela chases after a ball bouncing down the inside-right channel. He nearly nips in between Lascelles and Longstaff, who are in the business of confusing each other. But the ball fortunately breaks through to Dubravka, who gathers.
53 min: Spurs seem a little uncertain all of a sudden. They’re gifted a free kick inside Newcastle territory, but Eriksen sends the ball into the box with an uncharacteristic lack of wit. It’s easy pickings for Dubravka.
51 min: It’s Newcastle’s turn to hit the woodwork! Some good play by Ritchie, Longstaff and Perez to gain ground down the middle. Then Rondon spreads play to Yedlin on the right. Yedlin’s cross is magnificent, finding Rondon, who heads towards the bottom right. Lloris is flat-footed and beaten all ends up, but the ball caroms off the post and away from danger. That would have been a very fine goal.
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49 min: Lucas brings down a long ball just inside the Newcastle area. He can’t turn to shoot, so lays off for Son, whose scuffed shot is deflected out for a corner on the left. Lamela whips it in, and Sanchez rises highest to send a header wide right. Had that been on target - and once again, it’s a Spurs header that really should have been - it’d have been a goal, because Dubravka was running across in a blind panic. He’d not have got there.
48 min: But the second half has otherwise started pretty much like the first, with Spurs enjoying all the ball, Newcastle holding their shape.
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46 min: Longstaff drops deep on the left before wedging a pass down the channel to release Perez. He’s clear on goal, and for a second Wembley falls silent in collective anxiety, with Spurs having stopped to a man. But there’s a reason why, and the flag eventually goes up for an obvious offside.
We’re off again! Newcastle get the ball rolling for the second half. Neither team has made a half-time change. Meanwhile on a chilly afternoon, warm up by putting your hands together for Adam Levine: “I hope every time Son runs past Schar he yells out ‘I got you, babe’.”
Half-time reading.
HALF TIME: Tottenham Hotspur 0-0 Newcastle United
Vertonghen is clipped by Perez down the left, and there’s one last first-half chance for Spurs. A free kick, which Eriksen loops into a loaded box. But his delivery is dreadful, and doesn’t even clear the first man. And that’s it, the half-time whistle goes. Newcastle will be pleased with their efforts so far; Spurs look frustrated as they trudge off.
45 min: There will be one added minute of play in this first half.
44 min: But not for long. Ritchie hoicks another ball into the mixer from the left. At the far stick, Perez and Rondon get in each other’s way. Spurs have dominated in attack, but they’ve looked shaky at the back when pressurised. Newcastle have had their half-chances.
43 min: Ritchie switches play and finds Yedlin in space down the right. Yedlin slides a pass down the flank, allowing Perez to dribble into the Spurs box, nearly turning Vertonghen inside out. But he can’t quite make the space for a shot on goal, and Vertonghen does well to recover. The danger’s cleared.
42 min: Eriksen manages to cross from a tight spot out on the right. It’s heading towards Lucas, but Dubravka reads it well and claims just in time, without panic.
40 min: Now it’s Newcastle’s turn to take the sting out of the game, having seriously rocked for a minute back there. It’s not clear how this game is still goalless.
38 min: Son holds up a long Trippier ball down the right. He eventually slips Trippier away on the overlap. Trippier hooks to Vertonghen, whose attempt to guide in a volley isn’t all that. But the ball’s bundled out for a corner. From the set piece, Sissoko makes a better fist of a volley, though his shot is straight at Dubravka. The ball breaks free, but there’s nobody in white on hand to tap home. Oh Harry, where are you? Newcastle clear for another corner, and deal with that second one in short order.
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36 min: Lamela swings the corner onto the head of Sanchez, who heads miles over the bar from 12 yards.
35 min: Spurs settle themselves down with a period of sterile domination in the middle of the park. Once equilibrium has been rediscovered, Vertonghen wins a corner down the left.
33 min: More space for Ritchie down the left. He loops long, but Yedlin can’t force the ball on target from a tight angle on the right-hand edge of the six-yard box. Those last three or four minutes will give the away team plenty of encouragement.
31 min: But then their first serious spell of attacking, and they could easily have taken the lead against the run of play! First Ritchie crosses from the left; Perez should score from six yards but scuffs his shot. Rondon looks to prod the ball into the bottom left from a position on the right, but has to settle for a corner. One corner leads to another, which leads to Hayden shooting from the edge of the box. It’s blocked, and Spurs eventually clear their lines. Much, much better from the Toon.
29 min: Vertonghen is enjoying his rare run-out as a wing back. He’s got his attacking boots on today, having spent most of the time deep in Newcastle territory. Here he very nearly releases Lucas down the inside-left channel; not quite. Newcastle are being stretched to breaking point here. Nearly.
27 min: So having said Newcastle’s tactics seemed to be working well enough, now we’re at a stage where it’s a wonder how Spurs aren’t ahead. They’ve had six attempts on goal, of various sorts, while Newcastle have yet to make Lloris do any work whatsoever.
25 min: And now Lucas is sent free down the left by Lamela’s chip. He tries to round Dubravka, but clatters into the keeper. No penalty, and in any case the flag goes up late for offside.
24 min: Spurs hit the bar! Vertonghen crosses from the left. Lucas flicks it on to Lamela, who sends a header towards the top right. But it’s just an inch or two too high, and back it comes off the woodwork. Lucas sends the rebound flying harmlessly over.
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23 min: A rare Newcastle attack, as Atsu breaks from the edge of his own box and sets Rondon off down the left. Sanchez does extremely well to shepherd him towards the touchline and turn him around.
22 min: It’s beginning to slip into an attack-versus-defence drill, this. Newcastle seem happy to sit back and allow Spurs to pass it all around them. The home side haven’t been able to make all their possession and territorial advantage pay, that Lucas chance apart, so Newcastle’s tactics are working well enough.
20 min: Eriksen drops a shoulder to make space down the inside right, and has a shot from a very ambitious distance. He whacks it straight into Lascelles, and Newcastle clear. But they’re having trouble getting out of their final third; nearly half of the game so far has been played there.
18 min: Newcastle faff about a bit, just to take the wind out of Tottenham’s sail and let them consider the chance that’s just been spurned.
16 min: A free kick for Tottenham out on the right-hand touchline. They load the box. Eriksen swings it in. Yedlin clears. Lamela picks up possession to the left of the D, and lob-wedges a stunning ball into the centre for Lucas Moura. The Brazilian must score, free six yards out, but plants his header wide with Dubravka waiting for the net to ripple. What a miss! But what a ball from Lamela.
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14 min: Eriksen sashays into the Newcastle box from the right. Hayden sticks out a leg, and Eriksen goes over it. The crowd bellow. But the Spurs star doesn’t appeal for a penalty, having slipped before making contact as he tried to jink round the Newcastle man. He was already falling over. Play goes on, as it should, all agree.
12 min: The increasingly impressive Longstaff nearly releases Rondon down the left with a pearler of a diagonal ball from deep. Rondon can’t get past Tripper, but what a pass that was from the young midfielder, whose contribution to the win over City was crucial. He looks a player.
11 min: So, yes, it’s the Chinese new year on Tuesday. In other news, Mike Ashley is in the stand, and he’s getting pelters from the away support, who via the medium of song, are telling him to do one with great force and feeling.
9 min: Spurs stroke it around hither and yon. Waiting for a gap to develop. But no gap develops. Eventually Sissoko curls one in from the right, but Dubravka gathers easily ahead of Winks.
7 min: Son and Eriksen probe down the inside-left channel again. But Newcastle hold their shape on the edge of their area, and there’s no way through. Eventually Sissoko tries to split the defence with a ball down the inside-right channel, but it’s woefully overhit. Goal kick.
5 min: Eriksen looks in the mood. He drops deep and sprays a glorious ball down the middle with the outside of his boot. Son can’t quite reach the pass, but only because Dubravka read the danger early and was out to the edge of his box to gather.
4 min: Spurs put the pressure on Newcastle, Eriksen and Son causing Schar all sorts of bother down the left. Newcastle eventually clear their lines, but only just in time, with white shirts swarming.
2 min: A patient start by Spurs, who stroke it around the back in the considered style. Eventually Alderweireld hoicks it long, allowing Ritchie to head the ball clear. Newcastle’s first touch after one minute and 25 seconds. Then Son has a look down the left, nipping his way past Yedlin but sending a dribbler of a cross into the arms of Dubravka.
And we’re off! Spurs get the ball rolling. Newcastle survive the first 24 seconds, which is more than they managed on Tuesday night against Manchester City. The good news keeps on coming for the Magpies.
The teams are out! Tottenham wear their storied lilywhite shirts, while Newcastle sport a homage to that burgundy-and-blue-striped rugby-style top made famous during the mid-90s, Ginola, Ferdinand, Newcastle Brown Ale, all that. Both sets of lads look resplendent. A fine atmosphere bubbling away, even if Wembley is far from full. We’ll be off in a minute or two!
Mauricio Pochettino speaks! “It was so important for us after the week against Chelsea and Palace. We were so down. It was important to feel a victory again, and it was a massive boost for us. But Newcastle are in a good moment after beating City, and this is going to be tough. We need to give our best to win. We are going to use Vertonghen on the left, trying to find the best way to defend. We need to change and adapt knowing Newcastle, trying to break them down. The challenge is to get the three points, and then we can think about the position we are in. It will be massive.”
The folk at Sky Sports speak to a very content Rafa. “The main thing was to win against Manchester City. And afterwards, to see two new faces was important. When you go to January, the same players see the same manager. So if you don’t change the manager, you have to change some players, and be sure everyone has a boost. Spurs have some quick players up front, so we have to manage our tactics. I think Tottenham’s side is quite good! They have a very good team.”
A quick peek inside the Spurs dressing room. Hanging on the pegs, some special shirts celebrating the Chinese new year, which arrives in three days time. A good omen? Sadly for those with a proud cockerel on their breast, it won’t be the year of the Rooster again until 2029. This is going to be the year of the Pig. Not sure who that’ll benefit. Anyone spring to mind, placard-wielding Newcastle fans?
Tottenham make three changes to the side named for the 2-1 win over Watford on Wednesday night. Danny Rose, Serge Aurier and Fernando Llorente make way for Kieran Trippier, Lucas Moura and Erik Lamela.
Newcastle are in If It Ain’t Broke territory. They name the same XI that shocked Manchester City on Tuesday evening.
The teams
Tottenham Hotspur: Lloris, Trippier, Alderweireld, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Sissoko, Winks, Eriksen, Son, Lamela, Lucas Moura.
Subs: Gazzaniga, Foyth, Rose, Walker-Peters, Wanyama, Dier, Llorente.
Newcastle United: Dubravka, Yedlin, Schar, Lascelles, Lejeune, Ritchie, Perez, Hayden, Longstaff, Atsu, Rondon.
Subs: Woodman, Clark, Fernandez, Manquillo, Barreca, Kenedy, Joselu.
Referee: Andre Marriner (West Midlands).
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Preamble
Tottenham Hotspur’s season was in serious jeopardy for a moment back there. Out of the League Cup, then out of the FA Cup, and a goal down at home to Watford in the Premier League ... no, it didn’t look too good. But two goals in the last ten minutes stung the Hornets, and in a week which saw both Liverpool and Manchester City drop points, Spurs are suddenly back in the title race!
All of a sudden, they’re just two points behind second-placed City, and seven adrift of the leaders Liverpool. With over a third of the race still to run, that’s far from an insurmountable gap. A first English championship since 1961 is still a live possibility, no matter how much Mauricio Pochettino tries to play it down.
They need to keep it going though, with little margin left for error. And they’ll feel good about their chances of doing so against Newcastle United, having won their last three against the Toon. Late winners in their last two league matches will have added to the belief that this could still be their year, despite those injuries to Dele Alli and Harry Kane.
But while Newcastle have struggled this season, things are beginning to look a little rosier for the Magpies. Two wins on the bounce in the league have taken them away from immediate danger at the bottom, and scalps don’t come any bigger than the champions Manchester City, who were seen off sensationally on Tuesday night. Their new playmaker Miguel Almiron is still waiting for his visa, so won’t be available today, but his mere arrival has given the entire club a boost. They’re priced long for a win today, at 8-1, but they were 14-1 against City and look what happened there.
Can either side make it three wins in a row? Spurs are desperate to keep their title hopes alive; Newcastle want to put extra space between themselves and the dropzone. It’s perfectly poised ... and it’s on!
Kick off: 12.30pm GMT.
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