The Newcastle vs Tottenham clash delivered high drama as Cristian Romero’s spectacular stoppage-time bicycle kick rescued a 2-2 draw for Spurs. The match at St James’ Park featured controversial decisions and late heroics. Moreover, Tottenham twice came from behind to salvage a point. Nevertheless, the result leaves the Spurs winless in their last five Premier League games.
Newcastle controlled much of the match before Bruno Guimarães gave them the lead in the 71st minute. However, Romero responded seven minutes later with an excellent diving header from Mohammed Kudus’ cross. Subsequently, Anthony Gordon restored Newcastle’s advantage from a controversial penalty spot.
Match Summary
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Final Score | Newcastle 2-2 Tottenham |
| Venue | St James’ Park |
| Newcastle Scorers | Guimarães (71′), Gordon (78′ pen) |
| Tottenham Scorers | Romero (78′, 90+5′) |
| Key Moment | Romero’s bicycle kick in stoppage time |
The penalty decision sparked significant debate among pundits and managers. Specifically, referee Tom Bramall reviewed the incident involving Rodrigo Bentancur and Dan Burn at the back post. After checking the monitor, he awarded the penalty despite initial doubts.
Former England midfielder Izzy Christiansen stated: “You’re giving a penalty every single game if you’re giving that.” Similarly, ex-Premier League striker Clinton Morrison questioned the consistency. “There’s no pulling of the shirt or anything. He’s just standing his ground,” Morrison explained.
Pundit Reactions to Penalty
- Izzy Christiansen: Questioned if similar incidents would receive penalties
- Clinton Morrison: Suggested VAR should stay out
- Jonathan Woodgate: Claimed Dan Burn “climbed all over” Bentancur
- Micah Richards: Believed holding wasn’t sustained enough
- Jamie Redknapp: Called for consistency in decisions
Tottenham manager Thomas Frank praised Romero’s performance throughout the match. “I think that was the perfect bicycle kick, hit with the shin, aiming for the bottom corner,” Frank said. Additionally, he highlighted Romero’s defensive work. “A top performance in defending. On the ball: coolness, calmness, duels, then get up there and score two goals.”
Frank emphasized his team’s character despite their difficult run. “To go behind two times and come back shows everything about the willingness and mentality in the team,” he explained. Furthermore, he expressed disappointment with the penalty decision. “I think for me it’s never a penalty. Even speaking to some from Newcastle, they don’t think it’s a penalty.”
Tottenham’s Current Struggles
Key Statistics:
- Won just 3 of last 14 games
- Sitting 11th in the table
- Failed to register first-half shots on target in four consecutive league games
- Romero’s goals were Spurs’ only shots on target at St James’ Park
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe expressed frustration with his team’s defensive lapses. “To concede the two goals in the way that we did is hugely disappointing because we pride ourselves on being better than that defensively,” Howe stated. However, he defended the penalty decision after reviewing it.
Tottenham face mounting pressure ahead of Saturday’s crucial home match against Brentford. Meanwhile, they continue struggling without key players Dominic Solanke, James Maddison, and Dejan Kulusevski. Despite these challenges, Romero’s heroics in the Newcastle vs Tottenham thriller demonstrated the fighting spirit Frank desperately needs as Spurs seek to end their winless streak.
