Alexander Isak answers Newcastle critics with match-winner against wasteful Tottenham

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This was not a good game for Alexander Isak. It was possibly an even worse cameo from Jacob Murphy. So it was fitting that the two Newcastle players combined in brilliant fashion to conjure up the goal that secured their side an unlikely victory over Tottenham Hotspur.
Spurs will be wondering how they lost this game, but they do not need to reflect on it for too long. Ange Postecoglu’s side had 20 shots on Newcastle’s goal, but none on target came from efforts inside the area.
They did not have a predatory centre forward in their team, nobody to get on the end of crosses or into position for a tap in. Newcastle did and it won them a game they had appeared destined to lose.
“It’s very similar to our other away game [against Leicester],” said Postecoglu. “We controlled it for large parts, the threats Newcastle have, but we failed to kill it off and switched off a little bit for their second goal.
“It’s another sore one I’m afraid. Yeah, look potentially [we are missing a striker with Dominic Solanke injured]. We had good opportunities, but we needed more composure, better decision making. That’s been a constant theme for us we are trying to break through.”
That is the power a world class centre-forward has. Isak had missed a chance he would have snaffled last year, earlier in the game. Running clear of Spurs’ high (risk) defensive line, he took far too long to get his shot away and allowed Radu Dragusin to make an excellent last-ditch tackle.
It summed up his off-colour display. By his standards, this was a bit of a shocker from Isak. He failed to hold the ball up, he kept losing one-on-one duels and his body language was not great either.
The Sweden international has not started the season well. He’s looked sluggish, his contributions dull and blunted like an overused knife. There is a lingering suspicion that the 24-year-old might be one of the players Eddie Howe has described as “unsettled by speculation” this summer.
Newcastle fans adore him but were not impressed here. Indeed, when Isak lost the ball deep inside his own half with a heavy touch, there was a brief roar of anger at this latest piece of sloppy play.
Tottenham scored a few seconds later, with James Maddison’s shot spilled into the path of Brennan Johnson and the ball eventually turned into his own goal by Dan Burn running back to try and rescue the situation. Isak’s head went down, his shoulders slumped. He knew what he had done.
As for Murphy, he arrived on the pitch in the 61st minute and gave the ball away three times. It is not his fault, but Newcastle’s supporters and manager were expecting to see a right winger arrive this summer and his emergence from the bench reminded them of what the board had failed to do. There were a lot of groans.
Unlike Isak, he does not have the same reputation to fall back on, but there is something irrepressible about Murphy. No matter how many times his limitations are exposed, he is able to shrug it off. There is a resilience in his character that is vital for a squad player like him to survive at a club like Newcastle.
When Joelinton turned away from Maddison midway inside his own half – a lovely piece of skill from the Brazil international – it was Murphy he could see making the run in behind.
Most players would have hidden. Not Murphy, and the timing was exceptional. Not only that, but so was the clarity of thought. A player low on confidence, worrying about making a mistake, might well have panicked. He did everything right, keeping hold of the ball just long enough to draw goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario off his line, before squaring for Isak for a tap-in.
Like every striker should do, Isak had shown the desire and the awareness to spot the opportunity. He had the speed too and rolled the ball home to be the hero, with the simplest of finishes. It was the difference between victory and defeat, although Harvey Barnes deserves a special mention for his silky finish in the first half.
“I don’t think we’re playing as we would like,” said Newcastle manager Eddie Howe. “I think that’s obvious. I don’t think we’re playing with enough control, I don’t think we’re playing with enough composure.
“But what we are showing is the defensive and aggressive qualities that you need. I have to say we’re defending very well. When you look at how much ball Tottenham had around our box today  I thought the back four and in particular Nick were magnificent in repelling their threat, we made some really good defensive actions and I still thought we could score at any moment.”
He was right. They had Isak, who even when out of form, is better than most and certainly better than none.
It got away from us unfortunately. We had the chances to win the game probably comfortably but we walk away with nothing so it’s a bitter pill to swallow. It is what it is.
If you don’t get the second goal when you have momentum… The keeper has pulled off a couple of good saves but we still had the chances to create something more and we didn’t.
When we’re creating the amount of chances we have, we should be getting more in return than what we have been at the moment.
The positives are that our football is good and has been in the past three games. We just need to get our rewards for our football. If we continue to play like that, I know we will get our rewards.
It is my first goal for the season so it’s a good feeling that I score that one and we get the win.
Generally we weren’t expecting to have too much of the ball. We wanted to be dangerous on the counter-attack. It wasn’t the most beautiful game from our side but we defended really well and scored two so that’s good.
You always have to be concentrated. It’s easy to get frustrated. It was a tough game and tough for me – I wasn’t at my sharpest. Jacob Murphy had a great assist, very selfless, so it was just being in the right place.
We’ve always, at home, felt like we have that extra energy. We have spoken about using that. In the second half when we had a bit of a dip in our performance, we got some energy. Small changes made a big difference and really helped us get the win.
Tottenham had 20 shots against Newcastle, but only 2 worth more than 0.10(xG).
4 – Spurs have lost four of their last six away Premier League games (W1 D1), more than their first 15 on the road under Ange Postecoglou combined (W6 D6 L3). Fragility. pic.twitter.com/TcCL7FMDeR
Daniel Sturridge:
If you don’t take your chances, you get punished.
Roy Keane:
Tottenham will be really disappointed to lose the game.
It’s all over and Isak is the hero for Newcastle in a smash and grab win at St James’ Park.
Tottenham will rue their failure to take the chances they made.
Newcastle sub:
Gordon OFFAlmiron ON
Newcastle get caught out by a ball over the top, Johnson runs down the line and plays a cross across the box but no one is there.
We go into five minutes of stoppage time.
Newcastle have been given the runaround by Spurs since half time, inciting pressure, making silly mistakes and goalkeeper Nick Pope has had to pull off a succession of sharp saves to keep the scores level.
The home crowd were, quite rightly, getting annoyed with the concentration and application of their team and substitute Jacob Murphy was on the receiving end of a lot of it. The winger gave the ball away three times after replacing Harvey Barnes and could not seem to do a thing right.
Newcastle wanted a new right winger this summer and failed to get one and the fans were not so much annoyed at him as what his continued presence in the team said about their failed transfer window.
Murphy, though, never stops running his heart out for the team and it was his excellent run, but even better timed pass, that created the Newcastle goal – a tap in for Isak. Joellinton also deserves a huge amount of praise for wriggling free of Maddison and the pass to Murphy which exposed Spurs’ high line defence
Newcastle are sitting deep and soaking up the pressure being applied by Tottenham. Gordon picks up a cheap free-kick after a foul by Kulusevski.
Bentancur slides in on Gordon and mistimes it. Yellow card for him.
Tottenham sub:
Maddison & Bissouma OFFBergvall & Bentancur ON
Newcastle have done it again against the run of play. Joelinton spins away from his man and plays a defence splitting pass to Murphy.
The sub sprints clear and squares it to Isak to tap in easily.
Ball comes to Johnson in the box but he shoots over. Should have got that on target.
Brilliant save by Pope to deny Maddison’s curling effort from the edge of the box. Moments later, Pope tips over a shot from Porro.
The pressure on the Newcastle goal is mounting.
Newcastle’s sloppiness continues as Gordon loses the ball, Johnson bares down on goal. He tries to play the ball across to Son but Bruno cuts it out for a corner.
Tottenham sub:
Odobert OFFWerner ON
Poor from Burn as he gives the ball away with a square ball. The ball falls to Odobert and his shot at goal is deflected wide.
Reckless challenge by Maddison on Bruno and he gets a yellow card.
Newcastle sub:
Longstaff & Kelly OFFTonali & Hall ON
 
Murphy tries to catch Vicario out at the near post but the Tottenham keeper saves well.
Home fans are getting restless. The players keep losing the ball and putting themselves in trouble. Tottenham look poised to capitalise.
Newcastle fans have been screaming at Alexander Isak to wake up in this half as he has constantly given the ball away since the break.
And it is from his poor play that Spurs get their equaliser, as he once again loses the ball. Nick Pope should have done better with the first effort from James Maddison but when he spills it straight into the path of Brennan Johnson his shot is turned into his own net by Dan Burn.
Burn did not have to do it but Newcastle have invited pressure all half and have paid the price. A deflected cross had already hit the crossbar and you just felt that goal was coming.
Newcastle sub:
Barnes OFFMurphy ON
Seeing replays of the Tottenham goal. Pope had to do better there. He has looked shaky all game.
The home side are being overrun here. Bruno hacks down Maddison and is booked. Decent free kick position in a central area.
Porro takes it but shoots over the bar.
Tottenham hit the bar from a corner
Maddison shoots, Pope does poorly and parries the ball wide. The rebound falls to Johnson, who shoots towards goal and his effort is deflected into the net by Burn for an own goal.
Calamity of errors.
Son runs unchallenged towards the Newcastle box. He delays his shot and Burn sticks out a leg to block.
Terrific ball by Johnson to the back post, Odobert meets it but his effort flies over the bar. Should have done better there.
Bissouma picks up a yellow card for pulling back Barnes on the break.
Isa bursts through, he bares down on goal and Dragusin makes a great last ditch challenge.
Moments later, down the other end, Porro squares it across the box but no Tottenham shirt is there to tap in.
Tottenham make a half time chance. Johnson is coming on for Sarr. Very attacking change that.
We’re back underway here.
Really poor quality in the game but Barnes’ finish is brilliant. Spurs switch off at the throw – they’re having a breather at the wrong time. 
They get some bodies back but they’re all in the line. When the ball comes into the box, where are your two centre-halves?
A smart finish by Barnes is the difference at the break. Tottenham will be frustrated not to be in front but they do look threatening.
Joelinton is the latest name to be booked after clattering into Dragusin. Porro takes the free kick but his cross beats everyone. Poor delivery that.
Five minutes added on here. Tottenham have taken control of the game again and dominating the ball.
Yellow card for Longstaff after bringing down Udogie, who was looking to burst in the area. The free kick is in a dangerous position and Maddison is over the ball.
He plays it short to Kulusevski, but his first touch is poor and Newcastle get the ball away.
Against the run of play, the home side lead. Kelly gets to the byline, cut the ball back and Barnes meets it first time with a cool sidefooted finish from the penalty spot.
Great goal.
And just as I praise Spurs for getting back into the game they fall behind. Maddison switches off and allows Lloyd Kelly to get in behind from a throw-in. The new signing from Bournemouth does really well too, driving to the byline and crossing for Harvey Barnes. It is a brilliant finish, taking the ball at the top of its bounce, opening his body up to guide a shot into the far corner. Delicate and precise. 
Much, much better from Tottenham in the last 10 mins or so and they are starting to dictate the pace of the game after weathering that early storm.
Nick Pope had made decent saves to keep out strikes from Sarr from just outside the box and there is growing pressure on the Newcastle backline.
They have stood up to it well enough so far with all the danger coming from distance but Newcastle’s front three of Barnes, Isak and Gordon has gone very quiet.
Not for the first time this season, the latter has not looked like his normal self at all. The home crowd have started to go a little quiet too.
Spurs will be pleased with the control they have got of the midfield battle in particular.
Sarr is booked for a painful stamp on Kelly. Not enough for a red card.
Some inventive set pieces from Tottenham. The latest one finds Porro is space on the edge of the box and his drilled effort is blocked. Tottenham still on top at the moment.
Son nutmegs Kelly on the near side and the Newcastle full back drags him down. Easy yellow for the referee to give.
Tottenham have been the better team since the stoppage in play. The delay has definitely hurt Newcastle’s momentum.
Sarr tests Pope again from distance and earns a corner.
Sarr tests Pope from distance. It is a save the Newcastle keeper should make but the ball squirms away for a corner.
Odobert is released one-on-one against Kelly and goes right at him. The Tottenham winger gets into the box but blazes over the bar.
It has been a really strong start from Newcastle who have thrown themselves at Tottenham with some gusto.
You could even describe it as the unleashing of energy as the frustration of the transfer window is put behind them.
Alexander Isak’s effort may well have been a cross, after he robbed Son Heung-Min of the ball on the right touchline, but it beat Vicario who was relieved to see it come back off the crossbar. 
Harvey Barnes was also very close to finding the top corner after a long ball to Anthony Gordon had exposed Spurs’ high defensive line.
Romero has put the ball in the net for the visitors, but he did so from a pretty obvious offside position. 
Lloyd Kelly has also headed just over the bar from a corner, which came when Vicario struggled to deal with a cross and Emil Krath’s effort was fortunately deflected wide.
Spurs’ high line was badly exposed in the corresponding fixture last season and Newcastle are constantly looking to expose it again.
On the plus side for Spurs, they have an equally high Newcastle line to try and run in behind and James Maddison looks sharp as he tries to find the right pass from Son to run on to.
After a few minutes delay, we are back underway. Darren Bond is the new lino on the near side.
Stoppage in play here because linesman Ian Hussin looks to be injured. Did he pull a hammy chasing Gordon and Romero down the wing a few mins earlier?
Romero heads in for Tottenham after a cross from Porro but his effort is called for offside. And VAR confirms the call. 
#NEWTOT – 12’The referee’s call of no goal was checked and confirmed by the VAR as Romero was in an offside position. pic.twitter.com/T5Zti2HYEf
Barnes goes close now. Gordon leads a breakaway and heads to the box. He feeds Barnes down the left and he cuts inside of Porro and bends an effort inches away from the top corner.
Isak hits the bar. The Newcastle striker does brilliantly to dispossess Son, he heads to the box and his cross-shot beats Vicario but strikes the woodwork and gets cleared.
Not the fast and furious start you come to expect from the home team. The away side have done well to take the sting out of the match and quieten the crowd.
Away we go as Newcastle get the match started.
Very tight tunnel at St James’ Park but all the players make their way out onto the pitch for what should be a very entertaining match.
Kick off is moments away.
Newcastle: Pope, Livramento, Krafth, Burn, Kelly, Longstaff, Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton, Barnes, Isak, Gordon. Subs: Alex Murphy, Almiron, Jacob Murphy, Hall, Osula, Targett, Tonali, Trippier, Dubravka.
Tottenham Hotspur: Vicario, Porro, Romero, Dragusin, Udogie, Sarr, Bissouma, Maddison, Kulusevski, Son, Odobert.Subs: Devine, Davies, Bentancur, Spence, Johnson, Werner, Bergvall, Gray, Forster.
Robert Jones is the referee.
I think we can do better, we have to do better against a very good team. We have more to come physically, technically. Today is the day to show it.
The lads have done well, three tough games and four points and through to the next round of the Carabao Cup. We have a positive mindset. I think we’re a match for anyone.
Harvey [Barnes] deserves to start today, his performances have been very good, especially from the bench. I hope he goes well today.
There’s a temptation [to start Tonali] because he’s a top quality player. It’s about what the team needs. Sandro needs a period where to build his fitness. He’s ready to play, how long is a different question.
Failure is an emotive word to use to describe Newcastle United. As one of European football’s great underachievers, it is a word synonymous with far more painful periods in the club’s history.
Nevertheless, that is a word that can be used to describe this transfer window – and is – by frustrated supporters.
The Newcastle board failed manager Eddie Howe by depriving him of the players he wanted to improve his starting XI, leaving him to face a hostile press conference on transfer deadline day, trying to defend the club’s failure to sign England international Marc Guehi – or anyone else – from Crystal Palace after a month-long pursuit.
They failed the club’s supporters, who were led to believe that Newcastle, backed by the wealth of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, were unrelentingly ambitious; with a desire to be, in the words of chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the “number one” club in the country.
Against that framework, this window has been a huge disappointment. Emotions are raw. There have been lots of pledges made, lots of nice words, very little action.
Click here to read the rest of Luke’s piece.
After a disappointing and divisive summer, the timing of chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan’s visit to St James’ Park for today’s game against Tottenham Hotspur is interesting, to say the least.
Newcastle failed to sign a single player to improve their first team and manager Eddie Howe has appeared unsettled and distracted during a period of upheaval in the boardroom.
It is the first time that the club’s Saudi chairman has visited since January and it is the first time he has attended a home game since October last year – the 4-1 thrashing of PSG in the Champions League.
Telegraph Sport has been told that the visit was a pre-planned one and is supposed to be a show of support rather than a response to what has happened this summer.
But there are bound to be some interesting conversations going on behind the scenes given the club has attracted criticism for the way it is being run for the first time since the takeover by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund in October 2021.
On the pitch, Newcastle’s only free transfer arrival from Bournemouth makes the starting XI with William Osula on the bench.
Tino Livramento is preferred to Kieran Trippier at right back. Interestingly, Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes both start on the flanks.
Team news is in at St James’ Park! 🫡🔢 @krakenfx pic.twitter.com/XwaZG3luvt
United. 💪 pic.twitter.com/vdcVrvP1Np
Hello and welcome to live coverage from the Premier League as Newcastle host Tottenham at St James’ Park.
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has admitted some of his players are yet to return to the “optimum” fitness levels they need to play his high-intensity brand of football.
Howe’s team scrapped their way to a 1-0 home win over Southampton with 10 men before escaping from Bournemouth with a 1-1 draw and then progressing in the Carabao Cup by virtue of a penalty shoot-out at Nottingham Forest in midweek.
Asked about the intensity needed to play the high-pressing game which has proved so successful during the 46-year-old’s time at St James’ Park to date, he said: “It’s something you have to protect and work towards every single day because the players can’t just turn up and perform that way in isolation, it’s something we hone and work on continuously.
“It is related, of course, to our fitness. We have to be really, really super-fit to deliver that style of play for 90 minutes.
“That’s something, I think, we’re working towards. It’s no secret that we’ve got a group of players that probably aren’t at their absolute optimum fitness-wise. But very quickly, we’ve got to find our best physical levels to produce that style of play.”
Recent games between Newcastle and Tottenham have produced goals – 16 in the last three – and have been decidedly one-sided with the former winning 6-1 and 4-0 on Tyneside either side of a 4-1 defeat in North London.
Meanwhile, Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has backed James Maddison to force his way back into England contention after being left out of the first squad picked by interim boss Lee Carsley.
“I think he’s started the season really well and had an impact in both games,” Postecoglou said.
“He was very close to getting on the scoresheet in both. His general play in both games has been really, really good.
“As long as he’s training well and playing well, then I’m sure he will be back in England reckoning and I guess it is a question for Lee for future camps.
“I know he desperately wants to get back into the England set-up, but if he continues to play like he does and makes more and more of an impact, like we know he can, then I see no reason why he can’t get back into the England side.”