Was anyone still thinking Tottenham are too good to go down? Probably not, but perhaps there were still some thoughts that the club is too big to go down. If so, the last few seasons of uncompetitive promoted clubs may have obscured the fact that there is often a team that is dragged into the fight unexpectedly. Those teams usually display most of the signs we are seeing with Tottenham now. We saw another performance lacking inspiration, lacking any sort of identity, and lacking any kind of attack beyond a set piece. A deserved defeat and desperate times here.
GK Guglielmo Vicario
Did not inspire confidence with the way he attempted to command his area. This was typified by a decision to weakly punch rather than catch the ball in the first half. This kept the pressure on, and the fans certainly let their feelings be known on that. For the goal, he did make a good save from Malick Thiaw’s initial header but received no help from his defenders as the same player got to the follow-up first. Rating: 5
RB Archie Gray
The constantly rotating position of Archie Gray continues as he moved again to right back. Played there vs Man City recently and had a similar performance today, that being a poor first half and a better second half. Newcastle did not attack his side much in the first half, but he still allowed Harvey Barnes too much space every time he came inside. Easily beaten to the ball on the rebound for Malick Thiaw’s goal. Started well in the second half with a battling run and cross to set up a good chance for Mathys Tel. Deserved his goal for the fight he showed but reverted to a quieter game after that. Rating: 6
CB Micky van de Ven
Showed his quality in patches such as a great tackle around the half hour mark, which not only stopped an attack but got the crowd up and back on side for a while. Was caught out for the disallowed goal, letting Willock get away and then being turned back inside. Superb block to stop a shot from Harvey Barnes shortly after the score was 1-1 and did provide some late threat going forward. Rating: 6
CB Radu Drăgușin
Was not put under huge pressure but continues to lose his attackers at times throughout the game. A series of corners at the start of the second half sum this up well. While not alone in this, Dragusin lost his opposition player and should have led to us conceding goals, particularly from Jacob Ramsey. Was more of a threat from attacking set pieces than we have seen previously but was not strong enough defensively. Rating: 4
LB Djed Spence
Started slowly and endured a very difficult first half against Elanga. Grew into the game a little as the half were on but looked off the pace in his first game back and was substituted at half time. Rating: 4
CM Pape Matar Sarr
Played wider than usual. Had a first half to forget which included being booked for a dive and easily played through by the Newcastle midfield. Poor response to the rebound for Malick Thiaw’s goal. Improved a little in the second half with a good long-range shot that was saved and an assist for Archie Grays’s goal. Rating: 5
CM Connor Gallagher
Like Sarr, Gallagher played wider than usual, particularly after Odobert went off, and did not look comfortable. Put in a lot of effort but the game often passed him by. Weak pass for the second Newcastle goal and struggled to get back to stop the resulting attack. Rating: 5
CM Yves Bissouma
Like Spence, Bissouma struggled in the first half and was substituted. Newcastle played through the midfield too easily and Bissouma was not able to get near enough to stop this. Rating: 3
RW Wilson Odobert
Unfortunately came off with an injury in the first half. Prior to this, most of our attacks seemed to come through our right wing. Put in an early cross that Simons should have done better with. Showed some good speed at times, notably following a long ball from Sarr in the first half, but did not ever seem confident enough to beat a defender one-on-one. Rating: 5
LW Xavi Simons
Was busy early. Had a chance for a shot in the first few minutes but chose to flick it towards Solanke. Given the lack of chances we create under Thomas Frank, this was not something we could afford. Had another close-range effort into the side netting. Good delivery from corners and tried to drive us forward but was in and out of the game too much to be as influential as we needed. Rating: 6
CF Dominic Solanke
Has generally brought much improved hold-up play to our attack since his return so it was a surprise to see Solanke struggle with that here. As a result, most of attacks reverted to what we have seen for most of the season, breaking down immediately and the ball coming straight back at our defenders. Still looked dangerous in the box but did not get the service he needs. Rating: 5
Substitutes: Mathys Tel, João Palhinha, Randal Kolo Muani
Tel does not look happy at all this season under Thomas Frank and mostly cut an isolated figure on the wing again. Had a run and shot over early in the second half and spurned one of our better chances when meeting a cross from Gray. At least some efforts on goal but was too often wasteful in possession. Palhinha should have started and did improve us when he came on, both attacking and defending. Muani made a couple of bright runs without the end product, which is what we have seen a lot of this season. Made an error on a Newcastle break that almost let the opposition clean through. Ratings: Tel (6), Palhinha (5), Muani (4)