| Sep 27, 2020

Tottenham dropped points at the death against Steve Bruce’s Newcastle thanks to what will surely be one of the most contentious VAR decisions of the season, as Callum Wilson cancelled out Lucas Moura’s early goal from the spot.

Newcastle attempted to soak up Spurs’ pressure before creating chances for Shelvey on the break, but they were nearly undone early on as Giovani Lo Celso and then Harry Kane were kept out by a magnificent Karl Darlow double save.

Spurs kept knocking at the door, with Kane looking like the second coming of Roberto Baggio as he carved out chance after chance, and eventually the England captain curled through a cross from the left hand side which Lucas Moura met at the far post for his first goal of the season.

The Lilywhites failed to build on that lead, however, with Son hitting the woodwork twice, and Newcastle got back into the game, keeping Spurs quiet in the second half. Andy Carroll was thrown on as a last-ditch play but it looked like it would be Tottenham’s afternoon.

Then, the madness happened. Dier jumped for a routine header in the box as Newcastle applied pressure from set pieces, a lengthy VAR delay followed and to the disgust of just about everyone not of a Magpies persuasion a penalty was awarded after the ball hit his arm – with nothing the centre back could do about it.

A hard one to take for Spurs, but let’s check out the player ratings after Newcastle bagged a late point…

TOTTENHAM

1. Goalkeeper & Defenders

Hugo Lloris (GK) – 6/10 – Could have had probably an ‘N/A’ as he had so little to do. Got a hand to the penalty but couldn’t keep it out.

Matt Doherty (RB) – 6/10 – Leaves so much space in behind in a back four, but so effective at getting to the byline. Spurs will have to work out how to navigate this tactical conundrum.

Davinson Sanchez (CB) – 6/10 – A big set-piece threat for Spurs, had a quiet afternoon otherwise with not much to do.

Eric Dier (CB) – 6/10 – Seems a bit harsh to dock marks off him for literally having an arm. Maybe could have coped better with Andy Carroll at the end but otherwise solid, and didn’t deserve to concede a travesty of a penalty.

Ben Davies (LB) – 5/10 – Solid defensively as always, but it was clear why Spurs have opted to spend so much money on Sergio Reguilon as Davies squandered multiple openings on the left.

2. Midfielders

Pierre Emile-Hojbjerg (CM) – 7/10 – Came close to conceding a disastrous late own goal, but the most promising performance from the Dane so far. Thrived in the space afforded to him by Newcastle’s decision to sit in their own half.

Giovani Lo Celso (CAM) – 8/10 – Sensational. Had pulses racing early on with a scintillating free kick which was saved, and his passing range was just what Spurs needed against Bruce’s conservatism. Again, unlucky not to register a goal or assist. Perhaps a little too enthusiastic in the tackle, mind.

Harry Winks (CM) – 5/10 – Ponderous in attack with plenty of space to play in, and uncomfortable during defensive transitions, Winks continues to struggle in Mourinho’s set-up. Would’ve arguably made sense to have substituted him for Ndombele.

3. Forwards

Son Heung-min (LW) – 8/10 – Removed at half-time, possibly for fitness reasons. Had an afternoon much like Leandro Trossard’s against Manchester United, hitting both the post and the bar. Lively and deserved a goal against a passive Newcastle defence.

Harry Kane (ST) – 9/10 – The only thing this sensational performance was missing? A goal to top it off. Wonderfully outfoxed Hayden to set up Spurs’ opener, and his passing was majestic throughout the game – Son should’ve gone a lot better after a defence-splitting through ball in the first half. Was kept out only by Darlow’s persistence.

Lucas Moura (RW) – 8/10 – A typical Lucas Moura performance in all its frustrating glory, but should’ve been the matchwinner. A number of nice bits of skill, and kept Ritchie occupied. Taken off for Lamela.

4. Substitutes

Steven Bergwijn (LW) – 5/10

Tanguy Ndombele (CAM) – 7/10

Erik Lamela (RW) – 6/10

NEWCASTLE

5. Goalkeeper & Defenders

Karl Darlow (GK) – 9/10 – Man of the match. His incredible double save at the beginning of the game set the tone, and from then on he was (almost) unbeatable, keeping out a host of chances from Kane and Lo Celso.

Javier Manquillo (RB) – 6/10 – Solid. Put in some good crosses but there was admittedly a lot of action down his side.

Isaac Hayden (CB) – 5/10 – Couldn’t get in the way of Kane’s early cross to Moura, and found a later cross from Son similarly challenging.

Jamaal Lascelles (CB) – 5/10 – It feels harsh to single out any single player in Newcastle’s defensive unit. Without Darlow’s unexpected heroics they would have conceded four or five. Lascelles produced one particularly suspect clearance in the second half as well as coming close to conceding a penalty, and was genuinely far from commanding.

Federico Fernández (CB) – 4/10 – Fernandez is a lucky man – he lost Lo Celso during the move leading to Spurs’ first goal, but his compatriot missed and Moura scored. Was generally uninspiring at defending set-pieces and lost Doherty a few times.

Matt Ritchie (LB) – 5/10 – Lost Moura for the first goal, although he put in a number of tidy crosses as Newcastle searched for an equaliser. Went off for Jamal Lewis after injuring his shoulder.

6. Midfielders

Miguel Almiron (RM) – 5/10 – A rather streaky outing from the Paraguayan, who turned over the ball a little too much. Was substituted for Andy Carroll in the second half.

Jeff Hendrick (CM) – 6/10 – Much like the man himself, tidy if unspectacular. Was substituted for Murphy late on in the game.

Jonjo Shelvey (CM) – 7/10 – When this man gets going, Newcastle are actually able to play something resembling football, and despite a quiet first half, he was tidy in midfield in the second, helping his team switch play and progress forward.

Joelinton (LM) – 7/10 – Newcastle seem to have given up on playing him as a striker, but the rather unorthodox forward was very useful during Newcastle’s mini-revival in the second half, taking some nice touches to give the Magpies some time in Tottenham’s final third.

7. Forward

Callum Wilson (ST) – 8/10 – Easily Newcastle’s best outfield player on an afternoon where they completely lacked any cutting edge in attack. Tracked back well, looked lively on the break, and somehow ended up on the scoresheet at the death.

8. Substitutes

Jamal Lewis (LB) – 6/10

Jacob Murphy (RW) – 4/10

Andy Carroll (ST) – 7/10