Newcastle vs. Tottenham: Premier League match preview

Historical statistics suggest there will be lots of goals at St James’ Park on Sunday, but this match will defy recent trends, resulting in a low-scoring, tight, defensive affair. 

Fourteen goals were scored on Tyneside in the last three matches between these two sides. While Tottenham have no reason to concern themselves with redemption, Mauricio Pochettino will ensure his team batten down the hatches in the early going to stave off an almost guaranteed home surge from the newly promoted side.

The Toon army – even after just a single season in the Championship – is starved for Premier League football. Their collective voice will certainly buoy the home side in the inchoate stages of the match.

Spurs must take the wind out of the Tyneside sail and gradually assert their dominance on the ball. The opening 20 minutes will invariably be cagey but Spurs will take the ascendency – and sustain it – once the on-field product overshadows the grandeur of the occasion.

Newcastle scouting report

The 2016-17 Championship league winners had the fourth best home record, winning 15 of 23 games while gaining 48 of 69 points. Like Spurs, they dominated their division both on attack and in defence. Newcastle conceded 40 goals in 46 matches, the most stingy defence equalled only by fellow promoted side, Brighton. They also sat atop – level with Norwich and Fulham – the Championship scoring charts, scoring 85 goals.

Dwight Gayle, the team’s leading scorer last season with 23 goals, is racing against time to be ready for the fixture. He’s nursing a slightly dodgy hamstring. Mikel Merino, on loan from Borussia Dortmund, is also an injury doubt for the home side.

Already quite thin on attack, Newcastle, if Gayle fails his late fitness test, will feel a massive burden by his absence.

According to PremierLeague.com, Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez has not lost any of his previous eight Premier League home matches against Spurs (W5 D3 L0). I can think of no better time to buck that trend than on opening day.

What to expect from Spurs

Spurs travel to Newcastle devoid of a starting right back. Trippier is expected to miss about a month with an ankle injury he suffered against Juventus in the team’s last pre-season match. Pochettino will most likely, to solidify things at the back in an incredibly hostile environment, revert to a 4-3-2-1 system.

Eric Dier should get the nod at right back, with Mousa Dembele and Harry Winks expected to patrol the heart of Spurs’ midfield. Victor Wanyama and Son Heung-Min are both back from injury but won’t start due to lack of match fitness. Moussa Sissoko might get an early chance at redemption against his former side, slotted into the right side of midfield.

Shockingly, Harry Kane has never scored a Premier League goal in August, though Spurs’ talisman is usually rampant against promoted sides, scoring 20 goals in his last 15 games against top-flight newcomers.

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Tottenham look to improve upon their fifth-best away record from last season. It’s crucial that Pochettino’s team, who are historically slow starters, get off the mark with all three points against a spirited Newcastle side.

Spurs left Goodison Park with a 1-1 on opening day last season, but the gaffer will be bitterly disappointed leaving the northeast with anything but victory.

Spurs will remain tight defensively, keep a clean sheet and poach a goal or two, showing their superior class in the final third.