It gave me a very warm glow – Just like my football team had done, hours earlier

The Mag

·05 de janeiro de 2025

It gave me a very warm glow – Just like my football team had done, hours earlier

I gave Whitley Bay a miss yesterday, due to the early Newcastle United lunchtime kick-off against Spurs at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

I did the five minute trek to Tynemouth Club, getting there right on opening time, dropped my cap straight onto the best table in the house.

Vídeos OneFootball

I was soon joined by Bob and Auld Ellas and the lads seemed in as confident a mood as what I was.

When we saw the line-ups I was pleased to see Sven Botman back.

I also thought Spurs had a canny match day squad, considering all the noise this week about injury and illness.

After Solanke had given Spurs the lead in the first few minutes I turned to Bob and said “Nowt to worry about, we’ll hit back sooner rather than later.”

I didn’t think it would be as quick as it was but it was hardly a surprise, considering Eddie and his Hotrods have been in irrepressible form for weeks.

Our high press led to a great finish by Anthony ‘Flash’ Gordon. I’ve got to be honest here and say that once I saw the ball hit Joelinton’s hand in the build up, I thought that VAR would disallow it.

This was basically because we were playing away against a Septic Six side. Thankfully the goal rightfully stood and we then went on to gain a foothold in the game.

Our Rolls Royce Alexander Isak should have scored after a delicious Jacob Murphy ball delivered in from the right.

You just knew he’d get another chance though, and after more fine play and another accurate low cross from Murphy, ‘Ice Cold” Alex bundled home.

I thought we could have nabbed another by half-time as Spurs had completely lost their shape as we poured forward.

The North London outfit came out for the second period with a new vigour, played well and pegged us back for long spells.

The difference now being that our game management has significantly improved over the festive season.

We saw the game out after 12+ minutes of injury time and will be in good fettle for when we make the return trip to North London, to take on Arsenal in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg at the Emirates on Tuesday.

Arteta’s Gunners played out a 1-1 draw in the teatime kick-off at the Amex Stadium against Brighton.

Ange Postecoglu sounded like a desperate and disappointed man after Newcastle had inflicted another Premier League defeat upon his side.

A heavy defeat in their midweek Carabao Cup semi against Liverpool will probably spell the end of Big Ange’s relatively brief relationship with Spurs.

I once knew a lass at school called ‘Big Ange’, she too was a canny person, but didn’t carry much luck when it came to outscoring her rivals.

We’ve now done the double against Spurs and like the hapless Man U, they are no longer a viable threat to a European place.

Our next two EPL games are at St James’ Park against Wolves and Bournemouth respectively. These are followed by a trip to rock bottom Southampton and then back at SJP for Fulham.

We have regained our mojo at just the right time and things are currently looking bright.

I went home straight after the match and contentedly absorbed the rest of the afternoon’s football in the knowledge that Eddie and his team couldn’t have done any more to put us in our current comfort zone.

After my tea, I poured myself a twelve year old Glenkinchie single malt, which was a Christmas present from my daughter who is studying at Glasgow University.

It was aromatic and smooth and gave me a warm glow, just like my football team had done only hours earlier.

Spurs 1 Newcastle 2 – Saturday 4 January 2025 12.30pm

Newcastle United:

Spurs:

Solanke 4

Possession was Newcastle 43% (54%) Spurs 57% (46%)

Total shots were Newcastle 14 (7) Spurs 13 (4)

Shots on target were Newcastle 4 (3) Spurs 4 (2)

Corners were Newcastle 10 (7) Spurs 9 (3)

Touches in the box Newcastle 27 (18) Spurs 26 (4)

Newcastle team v Spurs:

Dubravka, Livramento, Botman (Kelly 90+2), Burn, Hall, Tonali, Bruno, Joelinton, Murphy (Longstaff 86), Isak (Willock 86), Gordon (Barnes 78)