It was a day to forget for Tottenham as Newcastle embarrassed their top-four rivals with a monstrous 6-1 win at St James’ Park.
Sean Longstaff returned to the Newcastle starting line-up for their Premier League top-four shoot-out with Tottenham.
The midfielder, who was used only as a substitute in last Saturday’s 3-0 defeat at Aston Villa because of illness, replaced Anthony Gordon in the only change to Eddie Howe’s team.
Interim Spurs boss Cristian Stellini also made one change with Pape Matar Sarr coming in for Clement Lenglet, who was named among the substitutes.
The home side took the lead with less than two minutes gone when Joelinton picked up possession wide on the left and cut inside before firing in a shot which Hugo Lloris did well to parry, only for Jacob Murphy to slam the rebound into the roof of the net.
It was 2-0 four minutes later when Joelinton collected Fabian Schar’s ball over the top and rounded Lloris before firing into the empty net.
Murphy increased the home side’s lead in spectacular style within three minutes when he picked up possession 25 yards out and lashed an unstoppable shot past the stranded Lloris.
Record signing Alexander Isak got in on the act when he ran away from Eric Dier on to Joe Willock’s pass and drilled a low shot inside the far post to make it 4-0 with just 19 minutes played.
Isak doubled his tally two minutes later with an astute finish from a narrower angle.
The visitors gradually edged their way into the game, but Newcastle continued to put their shell-shocked defence under intense pressure, although a remarkable first half finished without further damage with the hosts leading 5-0.
Spurs returned much earlier than Newcastle after the break with former Magpies keeper Fraser Forster having replaced skipper Lloris.
The visitors reduced the deficit within four minutes of the interval when Ivan Perisic combined with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg to put Harry Kane in down the left, and he cut inside Schar before firing inside the far post.
Substitute Callum Wilson restored order seconds after replacing Isak when he stabbed home from close range to make it 6-1.
More to follow…
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