Newcastle got their first points under Steve Bruce as Joelinton’s first-half goal gave them a shock 1-0 victory at Tottenham on Super Sunday.
After a summer of discontent, Newcastle got off the mark in the Premier League thanks to some lax Spurs defending, as record signing Joelinton slotted home for his first goal for the club (27).
VAR then denied Spurs a penalty as Jamaal Lascelles and Harry Kane collided in the penalty area with 12 minutes remaining, before Lucas Moura skied a fine chance moments later.
How Bruce’s Newcastle kick-started season
Tottenham had all of the ball but none of the bite early on. It took them 20 minutes to register a touch in Newcastle’s penalty area as Bruce’s side predictably sat in, but the visitors did cause issues on the break.
Team news
The big team news for Spurs was that Son returned from suspension, but there was no place in the XI for Eriksen.
He was benched, while Lucas came in for Ndombele.For Newcastle, Longstaff came in for Shelvey, and Sant-Maximin came back for Ki.
There was a warning sign when Sean Longstaff forced a fingertip save from Hugo Lloris, though he could have squared for Christian Atsu or Matt Ritchie with Newcastle three versus one.
But Spurs were found lacking at the back again as Ritchie’s lofted ball found Joelinton in acres of space between Danny Rose and Davinson Sanchez, and the Brazilian kept his cool to slot left-footed past Lloris from 12 yards.
Spurs did then react as Martin Dubravka parried away Heung-Min Son’s half-volley at the far post, but after the break Newcastle sat back in, forcing the hosts wide as Jamaal Lascelles and Fabian Schar cleared everything thrown at them.
Then came the VAR controversy as Lascelles, who lost his footing, looked to connect with Kane, sending him tumbling. Referee Mike Dean initially waved away Spurs’ protests, and so did the VAR in what was one of the tightest subjective calls so far this season.
Spurs then only had themselves to blame as Lucas Moura blazed over Moussa Sissoko’s right-wing cross in acres of space, while Kane failed to make proper connection from eight yards after another Sissoko centre.
Though Spurs weren’t at their best, Newcastle’s deep defending was almost impossible to break down, but Bruce won’t care after a summer full of doubts about his ability to keep his side in the top flight.
What’s next?
Tottenham now travel to Arsenal for the north London derby on Super Sunday, live on Sky Sports Premier League at 4.30pm, while Newcastle host Leicester in the EFL Cup second round on Wednesday night, before hosting Watford at 3pm on Saturday.
