Tottenham Hotspur 4-1 Newcastle United – Richarlison at the double as Spurs cruise to Premier League victory
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Updated 10/12/2023 at 23:52 GMT
It had been expected that Tottenham Hotspur's encounter with Newcastle United in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon would be a fiercely contested one and extremely tight, but as it turned out, it was a one-sided victory for the hosts. Tottenham looked sharper than their visitors throughout, and two goals from Richarlison helped to ensure that The Magpies were never really in the match.
Postecoglu praises Heung-min Son after Spurs' 4-1 thrashing of Newcastle
Son Heung-min led from the front as Spurs ended a five-match winless run in the Premier League with a stylish 4-1 thrashing of injury-ravaged Newcastle United at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
After losing their three previous home matches to Chelsea, Aston Villa and West Ham, Ange Postecoglou's side returned to their exhilarating early-season best on Sunday, boosted by the delightful supply and finishing work of captain Son.
Operating wide left, Son glided beyond former Spurs team-mate Kieran Trippier before crossing for Destiny Udogie to score his first goal for the energised London side on 26 minutes.
And the trickery of Son worked a treat 12 minutes later, when he again left the former Spurs right-back Trippier trailing in providing the perfect cutback for Richarlison to tuck home a merited second.
Newcastle opened both halves in positive fashion, but were undone twice more with Richarlison converting the third and his second from close range on 60 minutes before Son won and slammed home a penalty on 85 minutes.
Joelinton netted a consolation in added time for Eddie Howe's exhausted side, who remain seventh in the standings on 26 points, four behind Spurs.
Tottenham had shipped 14 points from winning positions this season, but their first victory since they defeated Crystal Palace 2-1 at the end of October was never in doubt as they continue to occupy fifth spot in the table on 30 points, seven behind leaders Liverpool.
Talking point: Should Spurs have been reduced to 10 men?
You do wonder what goes through the minds of elite footballers in some matches.
This game was done and dusted as a contest with Spurs 3-0 up in the final 10 minutes of regulation play when Cristian Romero lunged into an ill-advised cynical late tackle on visiting substitute Callum Wilson.
It was a nasty and totally unnecessary over-the-ball challenge on Wilson, whose ankle was exposed to the brunt of the Romero boot, but it somehow remained a yellow card.
When you studied the force of the challenge, it was a major surprise VAR did not get involved to invite referee Chris Kavanagh to take a second look.
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Destiny Udogie of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates after scoring their team's first goal during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Image credit: Getty Images
Romero was lucky to avoid a straight red, and Wilson fortunate to evade serious injury.
It was little wonder the Newcastle bench were unhappy with the decision at full-time.
"I was pleased to see Callum get up from that because it looked dangerous. But we can't use that as an excuse," said manager Eddie Howe on the BBC ahead of their make-or-break UEFA Champions League match with AC Milan at St James' Park on Wednesday.
"We'll look at the game and try and analyse it properly to work out who to select on Wednesday. We're not aflush with options.
"That's why I have to compliment the players, because they've done so well in this difficult period. These last few games have been tough, but I think the lads are giving everything."
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Howe describes Newcastle performance as 'way off' after sobering 4-1 loss to Spurs
Player of the match: Son Heung-min (Tottenham)
A sonny day for Spurs in dark December courtesy of their rampant captain.
Son has assumed and revelled in the role of being Tottenham's main man since England captain Harry Kane departed the club for Bayern Munich in the summer.
Increasing his tally to 10 for the season in the Premier League after converting a penalty and was unlucky not to add a few more with Newcastle out on their feet late on, but his body of work is about so much more than merely scoring goals.
From a roaming wide left berth, he played a pivotal role in opening up Newcastle twice in the first half with the sort of fast footwork that will give Trippier nightmares if he is forced to study a replay of how not to mark your man.
Player ratings
Tottenham: Vicario 6, Porro 8, Romero 6, Davies 8, Udogie 8, Bissouma 7, Sarr 6, Kulusevski 8, Richarlison 8, Johnson 7, Son 9 Subs: Skipp 6, Hojbjerg 6, Lo Celso 6, Donley 6, Gil 6
Newcastle: Dubravka 7, Trippier 6, Lascelles 6, Schar 6, Livramento 6, Miley 6, Guimaraes 6, Joelinton 7, Almiron 6, Isak 6 Gordon 6 Subs: Wilson 6, Ritchie 6, Krafth 6, Hall 6, Longstaff 6
Match highlights
11' TOTTENHAM CUT WIDE OPEN Joelinton sending Gordon spinning clear down a flank. Cross looks like a tap-in for Isak, but Ben Davies does just enough to get a touch and the ball flies off the Newcastle forward and behind. Superb counter surge for a second time.
26' GOAL FOR TOTTENHAM! (UDOGIE) Son with another superb piece of skill. The run to the byline and cross is put on a plate for Destiny Udogie to tap home his first goal for the club. They lead 1-0. Fully deserved too.
34' SPURS ALMOST SET UP EQUALISER Johnson needlessly gives the ball away and Newcastle race onto the loose ball. Pass from Gordon plays in Almiron, but his finish is weak and an easy take for Vicario in the home goal.
38' A SECOND GOAL FOR TOTTENHAM! (RICHARLISON) Son bounds beyond Trippier as if he isn't really there before clipping the cutback towards Richarlison, and an easy finish for the home forward. A 2-0 lead. Looking very good so far today.
60' A THIRD GOAL FOR TOTTENAM! (RICHARLISON) Newcastle opened up so easily from the superb Porro ball over the top. And Richarlison takes one touch before scoring with the second. A 3-0 lead. Surely game over now.
85' TOTTENHAM MAKE IT FOUR! (SON) Son slams home the penalty low to Dubravka's right after the keeper felled him in the box. And that is another for the home side. They lead 4-0. Suddenly a rout.
90+2' NEWCASTLE DO HAVE THE CONSOLATION! Joelinton slams the ball into the corner of the net from the edge of the box after Spurs squandered possession in their own half. It is 4-1 to the home side.
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