Tottenham 0-1 Newcastle: Spurs stifled in first loss of Premier League season

Newcastle had lost their first two games of the season under new manager Steve Bruce, but they broke their duck at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The visitors handed Spurs their first loss of the Premier League season via a frustrating 1-0 result on Sunday. Joelinton scored the winner for the Northerners.

This was not a fun game.

Christian Eriksen was once again dropped to the bench, possibly because his future at the club is still up in the air until the European transfer window closes. Jan Vertonghen also stayed on the bench with Davinson Sanchez once again preferred. Son Heung-Min was in the lineup for the first time this season after serving the last two games of his red card suspension from the end of last year. Lucas Moura and Erik Lamela also started in attack.

Newcastle’s first trip to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium went better than they could’ve hoped.

It was a very hot day in North London, with temperatures rising above 90 degrees Fahrenheit, so there were FIFA-mandated water breaks taken in each half. The sweltering conditions probably played a part in the game taking a bit to really get going.

Spurs kept possession well, but they struggled to create shots in the first half. There were appeals for a penalty when Son was tackled in the box by Fabian Schär, but those appeals were waved away by Mike Dean, and VAR wasn’t there to help the Lilywhites this time.

Newcastle fired off a warning shot in the 23rd minute when Sean Longstaff burst forward on a counter attack. His stinging shot was just tipped over by the fingertips of Hugo Lloris.

The breakthrough came just a few minutes later, and it came thanks to some poor defending from Spurs. Joelinton was kept onside by Sanchez, who was too far back in the Tottenham defensive line. The Brazilian took a pass and easily slotted past Lloris.

For the third time in the opening three Premier League matches, Spurs had conceded the first goal. The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was understandably frustrated with the effort.

As is often the case, the home side showed more intensity after going behind. Lucas Moura had a shot blocked just as the half was ending, and the referee blew the whistle before Tottenham could take their corner kick.

Eriksen stayed on the bench for the start of the second half, despite calls from fans and media to inject his play-making ability into the match. But he came on just before 60 minutes with new signing Giovani Lo Celso. Kyle Walker-Peters had to make way with a hamstring injury that could cause issues down the road at a thin position for Spurs.

The two creative players made the game more one-sided in Tottenham’s favor. Pochettino’s men pressed and pressed, but they couldn’t find a way through.

There was drama on 78 minutes, once again involving VAR. Harry Kane was brought down in the box by Jamaal Lascelles, but both Dean and VAR didn’t give the penalty. It looked like the wrong call, as Lascelles essentially fell into Kane.

The penalty wasn’t given, and then Lucas missed from an area near the spot a few moments later. It was a sitter that he should have done much better with, but the Brazilian was one of many Spurs players who had a disappointing game.

Kane also wasn’t at his best. He had a solid look in stoppage time on a cross from Moussa Sissoko, but the Englishman couldn’t get good contact on the ball.

Newcastle held on for the win, much to the delight of the traveling supporters.

Tottenham will have to recover from this defeat quickly. Next week, they’ve got Arsenal in the North London Derby.