Send On The Gunner!

The Mags are back after the International Break for a tough fixture against Jose Mourinho's Tottenham Hotspurs. Newcastle are still without Issac Hayden and Callum Wilson but Allan Saint-Maximin does feature on the bench after being out with a groin injury he picked up in the 1-1 draw against Wolves. As we all know every game now is a must win, none more so than the 3-0 defeat at Brighton two weeks a go. We all expected not to see Bruce in the dugout for this afternoons tie against Spurs but he's here and he's changed the system, favouring three center backs in a 3-4-1-2 Formation. Many changes in the starting eleven but Martin Dubravka keeps his place between the sticks. In a back Three, Krafth gets the nod over Manquillo, Joined by Lascelles and Dummett. Lining across thee Midfield we have Murphy, Sean Longstaff, Shelvey and a return for Matt Ritchie. Almiron keeps his place in the squad in the Attacking Midfield position, with Gayle and Joelinton Starting ahead of him.

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Spurs got us underway and in the third minute a mistake from Sanchez gave Joelinton a great opportunity early on when the ball bounced too far off his chest giving the ball wawy in a good position for United's number nine. Joelinton hit the ball on the edge of the area and struck it straight down the throat of Lloris. Two minutes later Spurs had a chance of their own with a free kick crossed in by Lucas Moura, but the ball missed everyone in the penalty area and went wide. On the eighth minute Kane picked up the ball from the edge of the area, beat Krafth for strength and pace and stuck the ball from a tight angle to Dubravka's near post but the keeper saves comfortably.

Fourteen minutes in and Murphy exercised his attacking capabilities with a great cross in to the box from out wide to pick out Gayle but Gayle puts the ball over the bar. But five minutes later Gayle had the best chance of the opening twenty minutes when the ball is scooped into the box by Shelvey, Gayle got his head to it to force a superb save by Lloris, the ball rebounded back out to Gayle who got another shot away but the World Cup winning keeper was there again to defend his goal.

And then on the 24th minute Kane played through Vinicious who put the ball past Dubravka and into the back of the net, But the linesman correctly raised his flag for offside. Four minutes later Sanchez attempted clearance was cut out by Ritchie who played through Longstaff who squared the ball into the box to find a United player unmarked. Are you sitting comfortably? That Newcastle player was the number nine, Joelinton, and he put the ball into the back of the net. good tidy finish from the big Brazilian. 1-0.

Ninety seconds later Joelinton's goal was nullified when Lo Celso played the ball into to the box. The United defense were at sixes and sevens with Dubravka and Krafth getting muddled up as the ball bundles off of the legs of Harry Kane into the back of the net. the lead didn't last long 1-1.

Four minutes later and it appears that Spurs, in particularly Kane have woken up. Ndombelle chipped the ball into the box to find Harry Kane who was unmarked inside of the area, Kane unleashed a thunderous half volley to beat the keeper and put Spurs ahead. Two lapses of defensive concentration has cost Newcastle here. 1-2.

Newcastle responded well in the 39th minute when Murphy played the ball over the top for Dwight Gayle who would have been clear for a clear cut chances against Lloris but the young Spurs defender Joe Rodon managed to stretch and keep the ball out of the feet of Gayle who was looking for his first goal since the 1-0 victory over West Brom in December. Into added time of the first half, Reguilon brought down Gayle to give away a free kick in a good position. Shelvey Pings in the free kick but the ball goes out to the wing, Almiron picks the ball up out wide and plays it in to Joelinton who finds Longstaff who went with the outside of his right boot and puts the ball out wide. Half Time 1-2.

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Just one minute into the second half and Almiron picked up the ball on the edge of the area, Miggy took a few steps into the box before attempting a curl into the net but well saved by Lloris. But we had to wait until the hour mark for another big chance, which came from a corner taken by Ritchie which finds Gayle who sent the ball back over to the far post but Joelinton cant react quick enough as he pokes the ball wide. The attempt was later adjudged to be offside.

On the 67th minute Almiron saved Newcastle from being effectively out of the game when lo Celso puts in a dangerous corner which Dubravka comes out and gets a fist to the ball, which only goes as far as the head of Tanganga who heads it goal-wards but it was saved on the line by the heads of Miguel Almiron. Three minutes later Newcastle had a chance for an equalizer when Krafth fired the ball into the box which found Joelinton, Joelinton controlled the ball well but his shot was left to be desired. 71st minute brought the return of Allan Saint-Maximin to rejuvenate the Mags. Two minutes later it was Harry Kane who looked like staining the score sheet for a third time when he was played through by Ndombelle, Kane got his foot to the ball but it was too close to Dubravka who smothered the ball.

On the 78th Minute on came Joe Willock for Emil Krafth as Bruce looks to attack the shaky Spurs defense. But in the 84th minute it was Kane who once again had the opportunity for a Hat-trick When Lamela broke away from Ritchie's corner, Dummett did well to hold Lamela off as reinforcements arrived to his aid, but Lamela picked out Kane who hit the outside of the post. But then in the 86th minute Ritchie crossed the ball far into the box which was nodded back into the center by Joelinton to find Almiron who's header was blocked by Rodon, Rodon's header found Joe Willock who blasted the ball onto the underside of the crossbar and into the back of the net, could this have saved the season?

2-2.

88th minute and Spurs brought on Bale whilst in the possession of an opportunity via a free kick, Bale was looking for the head lines as he claimed the set piece and blazed it over the bar. And two minutes later Ritchie dispossessed Tanganga to play the ball into Longstaff who dragged the ball wide. Spurs weren't done there though, with two of the four minutes of added time played Reguilon crossed the ball deep into the box to find Lamela who drilled the ball into the wrong side of Dubravka's net.

Full time: Newcastle United 2-2 Tottenham Hotspurs.

Perhaps this is controversial but I don't think Bruce got a lot wrong today. I think three at the back was sensible against an opponent of that caliber. And he actually found a defensive formation with attacking qualities. We were able to play from the back and create chances. We certainly deserved at least a point from that game. I sincerely hope we can build on this, especially given the return of Callum Wilson for the away trip to Burnley. But hopefully we can push on from now.

By Sam West