After a year in the Championship wilderness, Newcastle United returned to the Premier League today, the place many people, including their fans, of course, believe they belong. Spurs were the visitors, looking to put the Danny Rose controversies and lack of any kind of transfer activity this summer to one side and focus on mounting another title challenge.
This is how Newcastle United will line up against @SpursOfficial in the @premierleague this afternoon… #NUFC #125YearsUnited pic.twitter.com/9XykxBRZ8Z
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) August 13, 2017
#THFC: Lloris (C), Walker-Peters, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Davies, Dier, Dembele, Sissoko, Eriksen, Dele, Kane. #COYS pic.twitter.com/FggvlhAoDk
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) August 13, 2017
In an opening first half of little incident, interrupted by two injuries and a drinks break, Spurs struggled to find any kind of opening. Indeed it was right-back Kyle Walker-Peters, starting in the absence of Kieran Trippier and the man sold to Manchester City, Kyle Walker, who enjoyed the most touches of the ball of any player on the field early on.
Indeed the only real flashpoints of a drab opening half were the Newcastle fans booing their former player Moussa Sissoko, despite him earning them a cool £30 million fee when he left, and a nasty tackle from Harry Kane that resulted in a booking.
The turning point of the game came early in the second half. A match lacking any real intensity was sparked into life when Jonjo Shelvey, captain of Newcastle on the day, saw fit to stamp on Dele Alli in an off-the-ball incident. A moment of total madness, right in front of the referee, resulted in a straight red card for Shelvey. Newcastle, having already been forced into two substitutions due to injury, were down to ten men.
If the gameplan had been to kick Alli out of the match or put him off his game, it failed miserably. In the 61st minute, Christian Eriksen lofted the ball into the box after a well-worked Spurs move, and Alli ghosted into the six-yard box to finish off a perfect pass. 1-0 Spurs, tension lifted.
From there, and with Newcastle down to ten men, it became something of a routine win for Spurs. Another fine flowing move led to another assist from Eriksen, this time for Ben Davies, who slotted in coolly right-footed inside the box. A penny for Danny Rose’s thoughts as his left-back understudy got his name on the scoresheet in a diligent performance.
The rest of the game tended to peter out in a similar manner to the first half. This was a low-tempo, Sunday afternoon hangover a game, for the most part, with Shelvey’s act of bizarre, misplaced aggression giving Spurs an upper hand they were only too glad to receive. 2-0 Spurs, a clean sheet and a pretty simple win all in all.
Here’s the Game in 10 Tweets:
Newcastle fans booing Moussa Sissoko. I thought they were pleased to get rid of him?
— Cartilage Free Capt. (@cartilagefree) August 13, 2017
Those Spurs warm-up shirts
pic.twitter.com/ixfiEpZ9F2
— B/R Football (@brfootball) August 13, 2017
Benitez has done a really smart containing job here, blocking our pass out from the back meaning we're slow & moving side to side.
— Chris Miller (@WindyCOYS) August 13, 2017
Newcastle 0-0 Spurs HT:
Shots: 1-5
Pass accuracy: 61%-85%
Chances created: 1-2
Possession: 40%-60%All square at the break. pic.twitter.com/hVdNveE4M0
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) August 13, 2017
Absolutely right decision !!
— Gary Neville (@GNev2) August 13, 2017
RED CARD Jonjo Shelvey sees red after clashing with Dele Alli
Newcastle 0-0 Spurs (48 mins)#NEWTOT #PLKickOff
— Premier League (@premierleague) August 13, 2017
GOALLLLLLL! GET IN THERE! #COYS pic.twitter.com/BOekXWLVSU
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) August 13, 2017
Nufc losing, and Shelvey preparing to lie on the dressing room floor while his teammates tread on his ankle one by one. Seems only fair…
— Matt Dickinson (@DickinsonTimes) August 13, 2017
GOAL. Newcastle United 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur (Davies 70). #NUFC
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) August 13, 2017
Spurs' record in the Premier League when Dele Alli scores:
DWDWDWWWWWWDWWWWDWWWWWWWW
29 Dele Alli goals in that time. pic.twitter.com/oCnKqR5MYW
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) August 13, 2017
What did you think of the game? Do Spurs need any new players? Does Jonjo Shelvey have KFC for brains? Let us know your thoughts below, on Twitter @JustFootball or on Facebook.
SEE ALSO: Can anyone stop Harry Kane? Top 10 candidates to win the Premier League Golden Boot in 2017/18
Main image credit: via Flickr
The post Newcastle United 0-2 Spurs: Game in 10 Tweets as Shelvey madness costs Toon appeared first on Just Football.