Newcastle United once again shone in the Premier League and solidified their position as one of the hottest teams now. The 2-1 comeback win over Tottenham Hotspur away from home made one thing clear: the Magpies are not messing around. With the same 35 points as Chelsea now in fifth place in the table, Eddie Howe's team is currently living its best moment since 2023, while Spurs are mired in the worrisome slump of not being able to win at home now for six straight matches.
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Controversial comeback and game control
The game began electrifying. In just three minutes, Dominic Solanke gave a textbook diving header to a square and precise cross from Pedro Porro to send Spurs ahead. But the lead did not last. Two minutes later, Newcastle drew level controversially: a fight for the ball by Joelinton saw it deflect off his hand onto Bruno Guimarães, who found Anthony Gordon for the equalizer. The referee's green light for a goal saw protests of fury from Tottenham.
After the equalizer, Newcastle took control of the game. With quick transitions and tactical organization, Eddie Howe’s team showed why they’re in such a positive moment. The turnaround came in the 38th minute: Jacob Murphy delivered a low cross from the right, and Alexander Isak didn’t waste the chance. The Swedish forward scored his seventh consecutive goal in the league, reinforcing his position as one of the team’s standout players.
Solidarity in defense and objective strategy
In the second half, insistently, Tottenham reacted. Brennan Johnson hit the post, and Solanke had two more opportunities, but nothing that swayed Newcastle's defence. Sven Botman, returning after months ruled out by injury, was a wall. Upfront, Gordon had the chance to kill the game but missed. In the final minutes, goalkeeper Martin Dúbravka guaranteed the score with brilliant saves.
Statistics that tell the story
The numbers for Newcastle are impressive: five straight wins in the Premier League, 15 goals scored and only one conceded in the last five games. Alexander Isak entered the history of the club as few others have, scoring in seven games in a row, something only Alan Shearer and Joe Willock had done before him.
On the other side, Tottenham reach six games without success at home-a first since 2008. Frustrated Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou said, "If all things were equal and balanced, we would have won today." The comment portrays the anger of a team that, in spite of the effort, does not seem to find a solution to its defensive problems.
Current situation
This victory consecrated Newcastle as an authentic candidate for the top four, while the quality of the squad, commanded by Bruno Guimarães and Isak, together with the consistency shown, is proof of a promising campaign. In fact, this team had been showing enchanting and effective soccer, essential features to maintain momentum throughout the final stretch of the season.
While that may be so, Tottenham need quick solutions. The youth of its squad, with an average age of 23 years in the match, shows potential but also exposes fragilities. For Postecoglou, the challenge is turning these promises into concrete results.