Tottenham Hotspur blew away Newcastle in an emphatic 4-1 victory as Ange Postecoglou’s side finally recaptured the kind of form that rocketed Spurs to the top of the table earlier in the season.
Spurs had made unwanted Premier League history in recent outings by scoring first in their last five matches without winning any. But they finally ended that horrid rut in a resounding victory where the final scoreline could well have been even more lopsided.
Sky Sports’ commentator Peter Drury declared: “Tottenham once again the best versions of themselves. That is how they envisage they should be. And whilst the evening ends tetchily, it will in time become a celebratory night for Spurs.
“They were sharp, they were fun and purposeful… Spurs are back among the goals. The evangelist has his congregation singing once more.”
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Spurs struck twice in the first half in near-identical fashion as left-back Destiny Udogie and Richarlison scored from Son Heung-Min crosses. Richarlison added another goal on the hour mark before Son capped off an excellent individual showing when he won and converted a penalty.
Newcastle scored a consolation goal in stoppage time through Joelinton, but – for once in their recent run – Spurs conceding a late goal did not prove consequential.
Spurs rise to fifth place on the ladder, just three points behind Manchester City and the same margin ahead of Manchester United, while Newcastle sit seventh.
Man of the match Son told Sky Sports: “To bounce back like that is very important. We don’t want to make more mistakes like we have for a couple of weeks. I thought today was a fantastic performance and I hope we can continue to perform like this and stay humble.
“I said after the West Ham game we have to be more ruthless when we go in their box. Today we were ruthless, we were creating chances. You have to be clinical and we did a fantastic job. To beat Newcastle is not easy, they are a strong side.”
Postecoglou told Sky Sports: “I can’t fault the lads. They put in a massive effort today. We were brighter in the front third, I thought Sonny [Son Heung-min] was excellent and that sort of thing feeds off to the other guys.
“You rely on your leaders to take initiative; we could have had more goals but our attacking play was as good as it has been for a while. We are getting players back; you can see Newcastle are running on fumes. We’ve gone through that and hopefully we are coming out the other side.”
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Twice in the opening stanza Son Heung-Min ran at Newcastle fullback Kieran Trippier and carved out room for a cross, picking out a teammate for a first-time finish.
The first was finished by left-back Destiny Udogie, his first goal for Spurs. Udogie won the ball, turned Miguel Almiron and fed Son down the flank, before ghosting into the box unmarked to bury the cross.
It encapsulated perfectly Postecoglou’s tactical approach, with every player encouraged to work hard in defence and contribute to a free-flowing attack – and with a fullback making the kind of run more typically associated with a central midfielder.
Then Postecoglou was rewarded for his bold decision to sacrifice a midfielder from the starting line-up in favour of Richarlison, with the Brazilian ending a seven-game goalless streak to double the lead.
Remarkably, it was his first goal scored with his feet for Tottenham, having only scored headers prior to the Newcastle match.
Richarlison leading the line also meant Son shifted back to the left wing, where he ran riot and gave right-back Trippier nightmares.
Spurs could easily have killed the game off by the interval, particularly when Richarlison somehow contrived to miss a golden opportunity in the 44th minute when a Dejan Kulusevski cross was deflected in his direction at the back post – only for the striker to somehow completely miss the ball.
Revered commentator Peter Drury said on Sky Sports: “Spurs have their purr back. Spurs, with style, lead at halftime, by two goals to nil.”
But after a 15-minute period of Newcastle dominance began the second half, Spurs wrestled back momentum and Richarlison struck again on the hour mark.
Pedro Porro launched a cross behind the defensive line and found Newcastle keeper Martin Dubravka hopelessly stranded in no-man’s land.
Richarlison’s first touch was poor, but he steadied himself and swept home.
It was the first time he had scored twice in a match since April 2022, and the first time he had scored two non-penalty goals since 2019.
The 26-year-old had only scored one goal in 12 league appearances this season prior to his standout performance against Newcastle.
Sky Sports’ Peter Drury exclaimed: “Tottenham believing again. They in themselves, and he in himself. Spurs are on it once more, and there is their Brazilian sharp edge.”
Spurs continued to attack with verve as Newcastle – who like Spurs have been struck down by a raft of injuries in recent weeks – looked utterly drained.
Just minutes after Richarlison’s second, Brennan Johnson slammed the ball against the top-corner woodwork with a thunderous shot from a tight angle, the second time he had struck the post in the match.
Sky Sports’ Gary Neville said: “Newcastle are all at sea. Spurs are rampant.”
Tottenham then won their first penalty of the season as Son was brought down by Dubravka.
Son lined up for just his fourth penalty in his club career – having scored two and finished the rebound in the other – and made no mistake with a powerful finish into the bottom corner.
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Oddly enough, given Son had won the penalty, he was credited with the goal as well as the assist, technically the South Korean’s third of the match.
It was also the first penalty for Spurs since talismanic striker Harry Kane departed to Bayern Munich. Asked after the match about taking a rare penalty, a beaming Son joked: “Should we call Harry back?”
Centre-back Cristian Romero – who only returned last time out from a three-match suspension for a red card against Chelsea – then was fortunate to avoid another sending off for a reckless scything challenge.
Spurs continued to pour forwards as chances mounted. Dubravka got down well to deny substitute Oliver Skipp from close range, before Son dragged a shot wide.
But in the first minute of stoppage time, Newcastle scored against the run of play to snatch a consolation goal and deny Spurs a clean sheet.
After Newcastle won the ball high up the field, the returning Callum Wilson unselfishly squared it on the edge of the box to Joelinton, who coolly powered it home into the bottom corner.
Spurs next face Nottingham Forest and Everton before Brighton – three games that Postecoglou and Spurs fans alike will view as winnable fixtures.
