Tottenham expect Newcastle to park the bus on Sunday

Mauricio Pochettino knows what to expect from Newcastle on Sunday. He is looking for Steve Bruce’s side to park the bus and play a very defensive match.

Tottenham fans hoping to see an aesthetically pleasing match of football on Sunday must adjust their expectations. Barring a very surprising change in tactics, it’s fair to expect Newcastle to hunker down and try to frustrate Spurs by keeping 11 players behind the ball for long stretches.

Mauricio Pochettino didn’t come right out and utter the words “park the bus” during his pre-match press conference reported by Football London on Friday, but it was easy to understand his meaning when he expressed his expectations that Newcastle would play a “compact” brand of football. In other words, Spurs fans should expect to enjoy lots of possession and congestion on Sunday.

No one should really blame Steve Bruce and company for employing this sort of tactic. Newcastle are desperate to earn a point anyway they can after dropping their first two matches of the season. The Magpies lack the attacking firepower to match Tottenham goal for goal in a shootout. Their best hope at earning even a single point is to keep a clean sheet by any means necessary.

Tottenham’s hopes of breaking the gridlock will be massively boosted by the return of Heung-Min Son to the lineup. Pochettino has been very complimentary of his fitness and dedication in training during his two-match suspension to start the 2019/20 campaign. It would be a major surprise if he’s not a member of the starting XI when it’s announced on Sunday.

Son’s speed and clever runs from wide areas could easily be the key to unlocking Newcastle’s defence. Harry Kane will do a terrific job of occupying the attention of one or more central defenders at all times. That will leave opportunities for Son to cut in from the outside and get a quick shot away.

Spurs could also be boosted by the return of Dele Alli from injury. Pochettino told the press that he has a chance to play in the match if he passes fitness tests just ahead of the fixture. The odds are stacked against him making the starting XI, but he could give his squad a key lift from the substitute’s bench.

In the end, Tottenham will need to learn how to break down defensive sides if they want to mount a credible challenge for the Premier League title this season. Sunday’s fixture against Newcastle will give Pochettino’s squad a chance to prove they can’t be bothered by opponents who park the bus.