Newcastle United humiliated Tottenham Hotspur with five goals in 21 stunning first-half minutes as they ran out easy winners in what was billed as a showdown for a top-four spot.
Jacob Murphy and Alexander Isak each scored twice and Joelinton added another as Newcastle scythed through a porous visiting defence that was already under the spotlight from last week’s defeat against Bournemouth.
Harry Kane pulled one back in the second half at St James’ Park but Callum Wilson added a sixth shortly after coming off the bench to complete the rout.
The embarrassing defeat is a significant blow to Spurs’ dwindling hopes of securing Champions League qualification while the Magpies are now in a commanding position to finish in the top four as they climb to third.
Roared on by an electric atmosphere, Newcastle started with pace and ferocity, taking just 62 seconds to open the scoring.
Joelinton drove inside from the edge of the box and his low shot was parried weakly by Hugo Lloris into the path of Murphy, who was there to smash in the loose ball.
Five minutes later, Brazilian midfielder Joelinton sprung a negligible Spurs offside trap and rounded Lloris to double the lead.
With the home fans still celebrating, Murphy rattled in the third with a curling shot from distance that Lloris did not make any attempt to reach.
Sweden striker Isak, averaging a goal every 113 minutes in the Premier League this season prior to the game, then scored twice to compound Spurs’ misery.
First, he met a sumptuous ball from Joe Willock to slot home calmly, then beat hapless Lloris from a tight angle.
Kane barged past Fabian Schar and finished neatly to pull one back minutes into the second half but Newcastle responded when Wilson, who had replaced Isak, immediately poked home another from substitute Miguel Almiron’s pass.
Breathless 21 minutes fuel Toon dream
There was a real sense of expectation in the air leading up to kick-off with Newcastle fans aware it was a crucial match as they strive to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in two decades.
The Magpies tend to start fast anyway, but scoring in just over a minute provided them with an early boost and from that explosive opening they didn’t give Spurs a moment’s peace.
The home side wanted it more and were simply too athletic and powerful for ponderous Spurs.
Joelinton gave the visitors a warning in the build-up to Murphy’s goal with his direct play but Spurs didn’t learn the lesson as he added a second that was painfully easy to score.
By the time Murphy rattled in the third, the stadium was in disbelief – with the home fans and the visiting players probably as bewildered as each other.
If Spurs wanted respite, it wasn’t coming. Isak, arguably Newcastle’s best player since the World Cup, fired in two more in one of the most dramatic openings to a game in Premier League history.
Indeed, only Manchester City have scored five goals in the league in less time, doing so in 18 minutes against Watford in 2018.
More to follow.
Player of the match
IsakAlexander Isak
Newcastle United
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Squad number14Player nameIsakAverage rating
8.69
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Squad number23Player nameMurphyAverage rating
8.66
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Squad number7Player nameJoelintonAverage rating
8.53
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Squad number28Player nameWillockAverage rating
8.41
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Squad number39Player nameBruno GuimarãesAverage rating
8.39
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Squad number9Player nameWilsonAverage rating
8.32
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Squad number5Player nameSchärAverage rating
8.19
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Squad number2Player nameTrippierAverage rating
8.16
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Squad number24Player nameAlmirónAverage rating
8.12
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Squad number4Player nameBotmanAverage rating
8.12
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Squad number33Player nameBurnAverage rating
8.01
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Squad number36Player nameS LongstaffAverage rating
7.87
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Squad number19Player nameManquilloAverage rating
7.75
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Squad number6Player nameLascellesAverage rating
7.70
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Squad number22Player namePopeAverage rating
7.67
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Squad number8Player nameGordonAverage rating
7.17
Tottenham Hotspur
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Squad number20Player nameForsterAverage rating
4.05
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Squad number10Player nameKaneAverage rating
3.02
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Squad number7Player nameSon Heung-minAverage rating
2.75
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Squad number16Player nameDanjumaAverage rating
2.73
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Squad number6Player nameD SánchezAverage rating
2.64
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Squad number9Player nameRicharlisonAverage rating
2.51
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Squad number4Player nameSkippAverage rating
2.49
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Squad number21Player nameKulusevskiAverage rating
2.17
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Squad number5Player nameHøjbjergAverage rating
2.14
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Squad number1Player nameLlorisAverage rating
2.12
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Squad number14Player namePerisicAverage rating
2.05
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Squad number29Player nameSarrAverage rating
2.03
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Squad number17Player nameRomeroAverage rating
2.02
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Squad number23Player namePorroAverage rating
2.01
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Squad number15Player nameDierAverage rating
1.99
Line-ups
Newcastle
Formation 4-3-3
- 22Pope
- 2TrippierSubstituted forManquilloat 70′minutes
- 5SchärSubstituted forLascellesat 74′minutes
- 4Botman
- 33Burn
- 36S Longstaff
- 39Bruno GuimarãesSubstituted forGordonat 70′minutes
- 28Willock
- 23MurphySubstituted forAlmirónat 66′minutes
- 14IsakSubstituted forWilsonat 66′minutes
- 7Joelinton
Substitutes
- 1Dúbravka
- 6Lascelles
- 8Gordon
- 9Wilson
- 11Ritchie
- 13Targett
- 19Manquillo
- 24Almirón
- 32Anderson
Tottenham
Formation 4-3-3
- 1LlorisSubstituted forForsterat 45′minutes
- 23Porro
- 17RomeroBooked at 74mins
- 15Dier
- 14Perisic
- 29SarrSubstituted forD Sánchezat 23′minutes
- 4SkippBooked at 34mins
- 5Højbjerg
- 21KulusevskiBooked at 28minsSubstituted forDanjumaat 72′minutes
- 10Kane
- 7Son Heung-minSubstituted forRicharlisonat 83′minutes
Substitutes
- 6D Sánchez
- 9Richarlison
- 16Danjuma
- 20Forster
- 25Tanganga
- 33Davies
- 34Lenglet
- 45Devine
- 55Mundle
- Referee:
- David Coote
- Attendance:
- 52,252
Match Stats
Live Text
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Match ends, Newcastle United 6, Tottenham Hotspur 1.
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Second Half ends, Newcastle United 6, Tottenham Hotspur 1.
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Foul by Miguel Almirón (Newcastle United).
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Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Attempt blocked. Joe Willock (Newcastle United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Miguel Almirón.
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Attempt saved. Arnaut Danjuma (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Richarlison with a cross.
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Miguel Almirón (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur).
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Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Richarlison replaces Son Heung-Min.
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Delay in match because of an injury Arnaut Danjuma (Tottenham Hotspur).
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Foul by Joe Willock (Newcastle United).
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Son Heung-Min (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt blocked. Joelinton (Newcastle United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
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Attempt blocked. Jamaal Lascelles (Newcastle United) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Anthony Gordon with a cross.
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Corner, Newcastle United. Conceded by Pedro Porro.
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Corner, Newcastle United. Conceded by Ivan Perisic.
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Attempt saved. Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Joe Willock.
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Foul by Dan Burn (Newcastle United).
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Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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