Tottenham cannot overcome first-half follies in 1-2 loss vs Newcastle

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LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 23: Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur reacts during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 23, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Chloe Knott – Danehouse/Getty Images) /

Tottenham struggles to get out and pays for it

After the goal, Spurs lacked an actual response. Missing the leadership of Pierre Hojbjerg on the pitch, Tottenham struggled to move the ball through an aggressive Newcastle press. Minutes later, disaster struck again for Spurs.

Davinson Sanchez was struggling to play with the ball at his feet on the right side, so it was swinging back to the left through Hugo Lloris. Tiring of the inability to move the ball out with passing, Lloris hit a hopeful long ball up the left toward Ryan Sessegnon.

Sessegnon went up in vain to try and compete with Sean Longstaff, who easily won the ball, heading it forward to Miguel Almiron. It was from that point that Almiron took matters into his own hands. The Paraguayan held off Sessegnon, who was trying to track back. Then with one big touch, Almiron blasted past Clement Lenglet like he was a cone.

Almiron had the time to run past Lenglet, take a touch, and then open up to finish with his left foot under Lloris. Another play that took only seconds had gone Newcastle’s way, and Spurs were shell-shocked and looking for answers.

Second half surge was not enough for Spurs

Tottenham was better in the second half because they pushed harder and scored a goal. Harry Kane‘s header off a corner looked very familiar. However, it was the only real positive on the day, as the lack of depth in attack and the midfield showed.

The only attacking player to come on for Tottenham in the second half was Lucas Moura, who settled in as part of the midfield three rather than as a third attacker. Matt Doherty for Sanchez made Spurs moderately more offensive, but Doherty did nothing to impact the game, and his best chance was ruined by an overhit Rodrigo Bentancur ball.

Ultimately, Spurs could not find an equalizer, and it was a second-straight disappointing loss for Tottenham. They have little time to recover with a critical game Wednesday in the Champions League before a trip to Bournemouth next Saturday.

dark. Next. Newcastle to test Spurs depth