Newcastle trashed Tottenham Hotspur by 4-0.
Tottenham Hotspur’s manager, Ange Postecoglou, minced no words as he lambasted his team’s lack of courage following their heaviest defeat under his tenure.
Despite enjoying 73% possession, Spurs suffered a crushing 4-0 loss to Newcastle United at St James’ Park. Alexander Isak’s brace, along with goals from Anthony Gordon and Fabian Schar, shattered Tottenham’s aspirations for a top-four finish.
Postecoglou expressed his dismay, stating:
“It’s nowhere near good enough. We allowed them to dictate the way the game was played. A lot of it was self-inflicted by us. We weren’t brave on the ball.”
He emphasized the team’s failure to assert control and capitalize on their offensive prowess.
Defender Micky van de Ven bore the brunt of criticism for his role in conceding goals but was defended by Postecoglou, who emphasized the inevitability of errors in elite football. However, he urged the team to learn from their mistakes and grow collectively.
Tottenham’s slip to fifth place in the Premier League standings, behind Aston Villa on goal difference, jeopardizes their Champions League prospects.
With challenging fixtures against Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester City looming, Postecoglou stressed the need for resilience and determination.
Meanwhile, Newcastle United, now ten points adrift of Tottenham in fifth place, celebrated a commanding performance.
Manager Eddie Howe lauded his team’s effort, expressing optimism about their chances of securing European qualification for a second consecutive season.
‘It was a great performance from the players from start to finish,’ said Magpies manager Eddie Howe. ‘
We’re hopefully returning to somewhere near our best and we’ve got to keep heading in that direction. Six games to go and we will give our best to try and win every one.’
With six games remaining, Howe urged his players to maintain their momentum and strive for victory in each match.
