Newcastle United 2-2 Tottenham Hotspur: Joe Willock earns hosts a vital point in survival battle

A late goal from Arsenal loanee Joe Willock earned Newcastle a vital point in their fight for Premier League survival as they drew 2-2 with Tottenham.

It looked set to be a frustrating afternoon for the home side, who have come under-fire for Steve Bruce’s supposed negative tactics during their poor form - much like Spurs under Mourinho

Not only did they play surprisingly positive football, but they dominated in terms of chances and got a deserved equaliser late on.

Joelinton bagged just his second Premier League goal of the season to give Newcastle the lead in the 28th minute. Their pressing high up the pitch caused Japhet Tanganga to clumsily lose the ball and allow Sean Longstaff to tee up the Brazilian for a rare goal.

However, their joy was popped just two minutes later due to a defensive error of their own. Emil Krafth tried to shepherd Giovani Lo Celso’s pass to safety instead of clearing it, which allowed Harry Kane to bundle the ball into the goal and equalise.

A few minutes later, Kane then gave Tottenham the lead with an incisive touch and finish from Tanguy Ndombele’s pass after finding space in the box.

But agonisingly for the visitors, they were unable to put the game to bed. Tanganga had a second-half header cleared off the line by Miguel Almiron and a Kane effort on the counter-attack struck the post to deny him his hat-trick.

Substitute Willock then ensured the points were to be shared late on, firing in a dramatic late equaliser from close-range off the crossbar.

Newcastle are now three points clear of the relegation zone ahead of next weekend's encounter with Burnley, while Spurs moved into fifth ahead of their match with Manchester United next weekend.

Newcastle's team selection today understandably raised eyebrows amongst their fans. Much of the ire was directed at Krafth and Jacob Murphy, selected at centre back and right wing-back respectively, as well as a strikeforce featuring two players seemingly allergic to goals in Joelinton and Dwight Gayle - the latter of whom has bizarrely been given a new three-year contract if reports are to be believed.

But although Bruce may have opted with this formation in the past, the Newcastle fans have never seen him enforce it in such an attacking manner, taking 22 shots and accruing 4.02 expected goals. He may not be the right man for the job but, for today at least, Bruce does not deserve to have fingers pointed at him.

Kane once again displayed his world-class ability and finishing prowess by saving Tottenham's blushes. His two goals mean he has now equalled Jermain Defoe's Premier League goal tally of 162, yet in 258 fewer games, which is also one behind Robbie Fowler's tally in seventh on the list of all-time Premier League top scorers.

If Spurs keep on putting in performances like this, though, it makes you wonder when he will have the trophies to match his scoring record. Apart from a few players such as Son Heung-Min and Ndombele, who have both consistently done well too, Spurs really need to raise their game to prevent Kane from feeling even more like a big fish in a small pond.

Newcastle: Dubravka 6, Krafth 5, Lascelles 6, Dummett 6, Murphy 8, Ritchie 7, Almiron 7, Shelvey 7, Longstaff 7, Joelinton 8, Gayle 5. Subs: Saint-Maximin 6, Willock 7, Manquillo N/A

Spurs: Lloris 6, Rodon 7, Sanchez 5, Tanganga 5, Reguilon 6, Hojbjerg 7, Ndombele 8, Moura 6, Lo Celso 7, Kane 9, Vinicius 5. Subs: Son 6, Lamela 6, Bale N/A

19' - SAVED!! Extraordinary keeping from Lloris! Shelvey dinks the ball over to Gayle, who fails to score with two bites of the apple! First Lloris saves his header then somehow stops his low shot straight afterwards. Gayle really should've scored though.

28' - GOAL!!! Joelinton bags only his second Premier League goal of the season to give Newcastle the lead! Their pressing high up the pitch pays off as Tanganga makes an error and Longstaff tees up Joelinton for a rare goal.

30' - GOAL!!! Newcastle's lead is extinguished just like that! Krafth tries guiding the ball to safety instead of clearing it, allowing Kane to bundle the ball into the goal and equalise.

34' - GOAL!!! It's raining goals! Ndombele finds Kane in space in the right side of the box and he drills a finish into the bottom left with his second touch after controlling the ball with his first.

67' - OFF THE LINE!! Lo Celso's corner is punched out by Dubravka but only as far as Tanganga whose powerful header is cleared off the line by Almiron! Newcastle living dangerously now.

70' - CHANCE!! Joelinton wastes probably the best chance of the game! That's an awful miss! He brought down Krafth's cross beautifully then sent a weak shot far wide despite being unmarked.

84' - OFF THE POST!!! Lamela plays in Kane on the break and he whacks the outside of the post with a thunderous effort! So close to getting that hattrick.

85' - GOAL!!! What a moment for Newcastle!! Almiron's header is blocked but the substitute Willock is there to smash in the rebound! We're all square.