Newcastle United v Tottenham Hotspur Match Preview (18th August, 2012)

Tottenham at Newcastle, last season’s fourth against fifth, is one of the hardest fixtures that Spurs could have been given to start the 2012-13 season, apart from a game against the top four clubs. Newcastle were one of the surprise sides in last year’s Premier League and will be looking to build on that improvement as they commence their third season back in the top flight after one season in the Championship. Newcastle started last season with an undefeated eleven match run which stretched into mid-November and only ended on a visit to the eventual Champions, losing 1 – 3 to Manchester City. They started with a scoreless draw at home to Arsenal and through the season their  home successes included victories over Manchester United, Everton and Liverpool.

When Tottenham and Newcastle last met Spurs had their best performance and result of the season – a 5 – 0 victory at White Hart Lane, inspired by Emmanuel Adebayor who created the four first half goals and scored the fifth after the interval. At that point in the season, mid-February, Spurs were third with 53 points while Newcastle were three places behind with eleven points less. Newcastle then went on a run, while Tottenham slumped, and in mid-April, with four games to play, United moved above Spurs. By the end of the season Spurs finished fourth, one place better off than Newcastle.

Last Meeting at Newcastle

Last season Spurs travelled to Newcastle in mid-October and the match ended 2 – 2, denting Tottenham’s four game winning sequence which had started at the beginning of September. Newcastle were undefeated from the start of the season but it was Tottenham who went ahead five minutes before the interval, Rafael Van der Vaart scoring from a penalty after a foul on Adebayor. Newcastle equalised early in the second half through Demba Ba but substitute Jermain Defoe restored Spurs’ advantage from distance, in the 68th minute, four minutes after coming on. With four minutes remaining, the home side levelled when Ameobi scored. It was disappointing for Spurs to spoil their winning run especially having been ahead on two occasions and then conceding a late goal.

Team: Friedel; Walker, Kaboul, King (Bassong), Assou-Ekotto; Bale, Parker, Livermore, Modric; Van der Vaart (Defoe); Adebayor (Pavlyuchenko)

Tottenham’s Last Premier League win at Newcastle

This is a fixture where Tottenham are notoriously poor starters and they have found themselves behind early on as the Newcastle players respond to the home support. This happened in December, 2008 and although Spurs responded, they lost to an injury time goal. It was the same story in April, 2006 and the following December with Spurs losing 1 – 3 on each occasion after Newcastle took an early advantage. Spurs won a Carling Cup tie in 2008 by 2 -1 when Jamie O’Hara and Roman Pavlyuchenko scored in the second half and held out after the home side pulled one goal back.

21st Aug. 2004  Won 1 – 0  Atoube

Jacques Santini’s second game in charge saw him gain his first win, following a home draw against Liverpool the previous weekend. Thimothee Atoube, one of seven players to make their Tottenham debut against Liverpool, was making his first start at Newcastle playing on the left side of midfield. The Cameroon international scored with a great right-foot curling shot after an hour.  This gave Spurs their first win at St James’ Park since 2001.

Newcastle have acquired a number of quality players who delivered for Alan Pardew last season. Tim Krul in goal is a player Spurs have expressed an interest in while in midfield Yohan Cabaye,  Cheick Tiote and Hatem Ben Arfa performed well last season and they have an abundance of goal scoring riches up front – in Ba and Papiss Cisse. It is reported that they have a number of injury worries and are particularly concerned about Tiote who was taken off with a calf strain in their final preseason friendly was in Cardiff. They lost 1 – 4 but were without Cisse and Ba who had minor injuries while captain, Faricio Coloccini picked up an injury during the game. It is difficult to know who will start but most will probably make the starting line-up.

Predicting the Spurs team or the outcome of the opening match is extremely difficult – preseason means nothing especially where a manager has been assessing his squad and unexpected results are the norm. Last season Wolves won their opening two matches but were relegated. The mostly likely result is a draw which Andre Villas-Boas would probably accept now as he awaits the new players he had expected to be signed in time for the opening match.

8 Reasons to be Positive!

While Spurs lack strikers, their three goalscorers at St James’ Park are still available – Van der Vaart, Defoe and Lennon. Technically, the fourth is also available but I can’t see Luka Modric having a late change of mind and deciding to give his all for Tottenham and Daniel Levy.

Andre Villas-Boas has fond memories of visiting st James’ Park with Chelsea – his side won 3 – 0 and they had good fortune on their side, as David Luiz’s early foul on Demba Ba when the striker was seemingly clear on goal should have been punished with a red card but he escaped with a yellow.

Spurs have drawn their last two matches at St. James’ Park.

Spurs’ three visits to Newcastle on their opening day of the season have ended with two wins and a draw.

Tottenham’s last League win in Newcastle was in August.

Newcastle haven’t won their opening game of the season since August, 2007 and that was at Bolton.

On the last two occasions when Spurs had a new manager for a trip to Newcastle, they won – Ossie Ardiles and Juande Ramos.

Newcastle lost three of their last four matches last season, conceding nine goals.