Premier League: Magpies can start December with a Bang!

Newcastle United vs Tottenham Hotspur

Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United are aiming to make it three league wins on the bounce on Tuesday when they entertain Thomas Frank’s Spurs under the lights at St James’ Park.  

In a full midweek programme of top flight football, Premier League: Newcastle United vs Tottenham Hotspur is an eye-catching clash between two ambitious clubs which are in a period of transition. Both ended a long trophy drought last term, Newcastle winning the Carabao Cup while Tottenham won the Europa League, which means they are back in Europe this term, in fact both in the Champions League where they sit alongside each other in the seeded play-off places.     

Back in the domestic league Howe’s Newcastle made it back-to-back Premier League wins with a superb 4-1 victory away to Everton. Meanwhile Frank’s Tottenham entertained Fulham on Saturday and fell to the Cottagers after a chaotic opening to the game, and that made it three losses on the bounce, in all competitions. 

The Magpies and the Whites are locked together on 18 points, currently stranded in the middle of the Premier League table; but I suspect a raucous Geordie crowd will roar their team on to a precious victory on Tuesday to lift them nicely up into the top half, while heaping more pressure on the Londoners.    

 

Talking Points

Is Newcastle set for lift-off?  

The Magpies suffered a Champions League defeat to Olympique Marseilles last week, but they responded brilliantly with a 4-1 rout away to David Moyes’ Everton to end a winless run away from home. Malik Thiaw scored his first goals for the club following his £35m summer move from AC Milan, his opener was the fastest goal of the season when he netted with just 52 seconds on the clock. Lewis Miley and the excellent Nick Woltemade rounded off the scoring for Newcastle on a superb trip to Merseyside. 

While he has no problem with his attacking unit, Howe did change his last line of defence for the clash with Everton. Number one stopper Nick Pope has made a couple of ill-judged charges out of his penalty area in recent games, one costing a crucial goal against Marseilles, and he was replaced by Aaron Ramsdale on Saturday. And the sub keeper did nothing to suggest he will be switched again on Tuesday. With a busy schedule of league, cup and European football Howe needs a deep squad, and last week’s away win will give them confidence to put a run together.  

 

Romero back for Tottenham  

Tottenham’s latest setback, at home to Fulham, came without the services of centre back Cristian Romero, who had accumulated five yellow cards during the North London Derby defeat to Arsenal last week. Kevin Danso deputised, but didn’t do enough to suggest he should keep his place and Romero will return to stand alongside Micky Van de Ven at the heart of a defence which has been leaky in recent weeks, shipping 13 goals in the last four games. I expect the Newcastle United vs Tottenham Hotspur highlights will see the visitors on the back foot for much of the game and Frank will demand greater concentration from his team which conceded two goals in the first six minutes against the Cottagers, and despite Mohammed Kudus halving the deficit in the second half Spurs’ comeback never materialised. 

After his team was booed off a half time Frank said that his players put in an emotional performance in the second period, but they lacked the cutting edge to get back into the game. The manager might decide to freshen up his front line with Xavi Simons available to start, possibly in place of Brazil striker Richarlison.           

 

History 

Spurs are ahead by 74 wins Newcastle’s 65 in the head to head meetings, and there have been 34 draws; but the Geordies have won the last four encounters, including a 2-0 home win over Spurs in October to progress to the quarter finals of the Carabao Cup. The last time Tottenham won at St James’ Park was in a five goal thriller in 2021 and recent form, or indeed the Newcastle United vs Tottenham Hotspur betting odds, doesn’t suggest Frank’s men are about to break that sequence. 

With one win, one draw and four defeats from their last six the North Londoners are in the doldrums, and they meet a team which has blown hot and cold, with three wins and three defeats from six, but the Magpies are very strong at home.      

 

Betting Tip

Newcastle are hot SBOTOP favourites at odds of 1.69 to win this match, with the draw at 4.00 and a Spurs win at 4.50. Frank will be looking for a response from his players but I think it will be hard for the visitors to withstand a fierce black and white wave.

   

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