Smash and grab doesn't even come close as Wilson pen saves United
Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Newcastle United
A penalty, deep in injury time, following a joke of a decision to award Newcastle a penalty, would be converted by Callum Wilson to give his side a totally undeserved point at Spurs this afternoon.
A 93rd minute free kick form Shelvey was headed back across the box by Andy Carroll. But with his back to the ball and just a foot or so away from the ball, Eric Dier was eventually (after 4 minutes of play and review) adjudged to have handled the ball. Yes his arm was not in a natural position, but if that's a penalty there is a real issue with the game right now. Wilson cool as you like slammed the ball home.
In the first half, a Lucas Moura strike on 25 minutes, with yet another assist for Harry Kane, would separate the sides in the first half as Spurs totally dominated proceedings in the Capital. Only some outstanding saves and a lick of paint on Darlow's right hand post would save the Magpies from a wider margin.
A draw then will be grabbed by both hands by Bruce and his men. The record books will show yet another point in the Capital but it far from tells the story of this one.
Newcastle United had travelled to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this afternoon looking to bounce back from a horror show against Brighton last week and build on their attacking display during the week against lowly Morecambe.
With Saint_Maximin and Lewis both out injured well before kick off, and with Fraser complaining of a sore groin before kick off and therefore missing out too, there would be a host of changes for this one. See FactFile at foot of page for STARTING XI and in game stats.
It would be Darlow would be the busier of keepers from the first kick off on what would be a long afternoon for the black and whites.
Inside 3 minutes he was forced into a fantastic double save, first from a Lo Celso free kick that looked destined for the keepers top left corner before getting up again to then save the rebound from Kane who again looked certain to score. It already looked like Darlow was going to need a performance of Krul proportions for the visitors to get anything form this one.
And on 8 mins the Newcastle keeper would be forced to make another brilliant save. A cross from the right flank perfectly met by Kane but again the United stopper was up to the challenge with a point blank save.
Spurs would get the breakthrough on 25 minutes however, with Kane this time the provider. The England striker finding room on the left to run to the edge of the box before crossing into that dreaded channel and allowing Mouro to steal in at the far post to stab home.
Moments later it could have been worse, first a Son effort blocked, and then Darlow having to stretch every inch of his 6’2” frame to tip wide from Kane.
Next it would be the woodwork to save United, Son again with the strike, this time denied by a lick of paint.
It would take until injury time int eh first half for Newcastle to offer anything of any real threat to the Spurs goal. A late corner.
1-0 at half time. Quite how, god only knows.
Newcastle United did look as if they were trying to play a little further up the field in the second half. The main indication being there seemed to be even more room in the last third for those in white.
Going forward Bruce’s men would at least start to look to get more than just Wilson into the box.
A poor corner from Newcastle would be recycled on 55 minutes by Joelinton who did well to beat two men before his effort, neither a cross nor a shot, would sail wide. Green shoots?
And Newcastle would look to build on a stronger second half. Another half chance for the visitors coming from a neat move down the left with Joelinton finding Almiron who would feed the ball back to Hendrick who’s shot would be wildly driven wider of Lloris’ right hand post.
The game would start to settle back into the same pattern as the first half as the second period continued however.
An enforced change on 69 minutes, with Ritchie coming off with a shoulder injury, would see a flurry of changes in personnel for Newcastle United over a 10 minute period, as Bruce changed to a 4-4-2 with Carrol and Wilson up top.
A change of system would not mean a change of fortunes however. With the graphic flashed on the screen from Sky showing Newcastle had managed 2 shots on target in all of their first three games (both converted against West Ham in the opening game and none against Brighton or Spurs).
Until…
Into injury time and a back post header from Carroll would strike the hand of Eric Dier. Dier just a foot away from the Newcastle striker when the ball was headed back towards him, the Spurs player with his back to the action.
A joke of a decision but a penalty was the result. Up step Wilson, and despite the Lloris going the right way, the Newcastle new man doubled his personal account for the season.
Yep. Three attempts on target this season. Three goals.
Don’t let the result hide the performance however. This was poor beyond reason, particularly in the first half.
FACTFILE
