What Tottenham need to improve from win at Newcastle

Tottenham Hotspur had a good overall display in their 2-3 win over Newcastle. however, Spurs were not perfect. If Tottenham is to build on their road win, there are some things Spurs will need to do better, here are just a few.

Spurs still struggling with their set-pieces

Despite having nine corners Spurs only came close on one as Lucas Moura had a header bounce off the crossbar. However, on the other eight corners Spurs really struggled to get anything on the goalframe.

The problem was not an inability to get the ball by the first man, rather it was an inability for anyone to connect on the other end, other than Moura the one time. One corner Son hit bounced all the way through past the far post, yet no one was there to put the ball in. Simply having someone cover the back post on corners could make a big difference in turning corners into chances.

Tottenham also again had a wasted free-kick. If the wall was not directly in front of him Harry Kane‘s effort might have troubled Karl Darlow, instead, it bounced harmlessly off the wall.

If you watch the field as Andre Mariner was giving Jonjo Shelvey his Red Card, you can see Harry Kane with the ball already in his hand, starting to tell Eric Dier who is taking the free-kick. Neither really inspire the confidence that the ball is going to fly in and Tottenham need to have a better plan with their set-pieces.

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Tottenham needs to improve the defensive communication

Both the goals Tottenham conceded to Newcastle were preventable if the defence would simply do a better job communicating.

On the first goal, Skipp should be coming over to help tell Reguilon to jump the obvious overlap instead of playing two-v-one. Additionally, Emerson Royal was behind Cristian Romero and could have given him the shout about Callum Wilson lurking behind his shoulder. Instead, Wilson just beat Romero to the ball and Newcastle took the early lead.

Whereas that first goal was a bang, bang play early in the match catching Tottenham a bit off guard, the own goal was completely preventable. Further, while Spurs cannot seem to score on set-pieces they sure have no problem conceding on them.

On DIer’s own goal, there was no real pressure on the defence. Tottenham had seven defenders in the box, not including Hugo Lloris, whereas Newcastle only had three attackers. Had Dier called off Romerohe could have easily headed the ball clear, instead of being caught in no man’s land as the ball skimmed over Romero’s head.

You can clearly hear Lloris call away, as he should have on a ball closer to the penalty spot than the goal line but there was not much else communication to hear as the ball bounced off Dier and into the net.

Another time in the match, you could see Pierre Hojbjerg get upset with Dier and the defence for not better supporting him when he was going to press. In that instance maybe a little communication from Hojbjerg helps get everyone in the right position. When defending, a little communication can go a long way and Tottenham is going to need that to beat quality teams.

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Tottenham need to have that killer instinct

Maybe the worst part about the own goal at the 89th minutes – outside a very uncalled-for foul that gave the free-kick away – was the fact Newcastle was even in that position at all.

Only six minutes earlier, Tottenham was in total control of the game, dominating possession, and had just gone a man up as Shelvey was sent off. Normally, when a player is sent off the team with the man advantage will dominate possession and make life difficult for the team a man-down. However, this was not the case against the Toon, instead, Tottenham mostly sat back after the Shelvey red card and allowed Newcastle to play with the ball.

Instead of pushing ahead and finishing a wounded opposition, Tottenham sat back and let a team that was never in the game in it. That is not the mentality Spurs need to find success this season. Newcastle never should have scored that second goal because they never should have had the ball again.

After that goal and throughout the extra time Spurs dominated possession and Newcastle was content to let it happen. The same would have been true had Spurs not turned off after the red card and had finished their opponent. They got away with it against Newcastle and may even midweek against Vitesse but they sure won’t this weekend against West Ham.