Tottenham Hotspur-Jacob Murphy scored two goals, image source CNN
St James’ Park erupted with euphoria just 21 minutes into the game as Newcastle United found themselves with an overwhelming 5-0 lead against their fierce rival Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
The elated fans could hardly believe their eyes at such an impressive display of domination, and Newcastle continued to cruise towards a 6-1 victory, securing their place as a top four team.
It was a disastrous start for Spurs, one that seemed almost unimaginable. According to OptaJoe, a well-known statistics website, only one other Premier League game had a worse start in history. In September of 2019, Manchester City had scored five goals in just 19 minutes against Watford.
However, history showed that a poor start did not always mean a dismal outcome. In that same year, Manchester City finished second, while Watford found themselves being relegated. The Newcastle versus Spurs game was supposed to be a closely contested battle between fourth and fifth place, separated by a mere three points and with a coveted spot in next season’s Champions League at stake.
The first 20 minutes of the game made it apparent that Newcastle and Tottenham were far from evenly matched. Tottenham’s manager Cristian Stellini’s decision to experiment with a back four formation seemed to backfire as Newcastle dominated the field.
Following their triumphant victory, the Magpies have ascended to third place in the league, with a comfortable six-point lead and a game in hand over Spurs. This win has placed them one step closer to achieving their first qualification in the Champions League in two decades.
In an interview with BBC Sport, Newcastle manager Eddie Howe expressed his elation, stating that it’s not often that a team has such a momentous start in a game of such significance.
“I’m extremely pleased with the collective effort of the entire team,” expressed the coach.
Newcastle’s explosive gameplay was evident from the first minute, as they applied pressure on their opponent. Joelinton made a move towards the box, and within moments, the floodgates opened. He struck the ball towards the net, and though Lloris managed to parry it away, Joe Murphy was right there to seize the opportunity, scoring with precision.
Newcastle’s relentless attacking strategy proved to be fruitful, as every move they made resulted in a corner, a scoring opportunity, or a shot on goal. Meanwhile, Tottenham’s defense was struggling to hold their ground. In under five minutes, Fabian Schär delivered a long ball from the halfway line, finding Joelinton in an open space, who made an impressive finish past Lloris.
Tottenham appeared stunned, and their defense began to falter. Murphy seized the moment when Tottenham lost possession in their own half, scoring Newcastle’s third goal in less than 10 minutes.
When asked about his goal, Murphy expressed his joy, stating that while he wasn’t surprised, he was glad to see the ball hit the back of the net. He knew it was a clean strike from the moment he made contact with the ball.
“It means everything to me. Whether I’m starting or coming off the bench, I always strive to contribute and add value to the team,” expressed the player.
Ten minutes after their third goal, Newcastle managed to unlock Tottenham’s defense yet again, this time with a well-placed pass from Joe Willock to Alexander Isak, who scored a goal with ease.
Just two minutes later, Isak made another successful strike, bringing the total score for Newcastle to five goals in just 21 minutes.
In the second half, Tottenham’s Harry Kane managed to score a goal, demonstrating his exceptional solo skills as he gracefully maneuvered down the wing and found the back of the net.
Despite Harry Kane’s goal, Newcastle continued to dominate the game, and Callum Wilson extended their lead to six goals midway through the second half.
The result puts Tottenham in a precarious position, as they are at risk of missing out on European football next season. Currently, they are within striking distance of Aston Villa, Liverpool, and Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League table.
After the match, Lloris expressed his disappointment, stating that Tottenham’s performance was embarrassing. He apologized to the fans for not putting up a good show and acknowledged that they could not match the level of Newcastle’s players.
