Tottenham Hotspur 1 : 0 Newcastle United
by Steve Clare, Wembley Stadium
A Harry Kane goal just after the interval settled this match and sparked off celebrations among the Spurs faithful. Their 1-0 win was narrow and they were outshot 13-11 by the visitors though not outplayed but the news coming in from south west London that Huddersfield had held Chelsea to a draw had repercussions for Spurs, all of them positive.
Antonio Conte’s Chelsea now cannot catch them and Spurs will therefore finish London’s top club in the league with a decent chance of topping Liverpool and grabbing third if Leicester are defeated in the final Wembley match of Spurs’ year in HA9, Middlesex.
The Geordies stay tenth on 41 points ahead of three other cubs on goal difference. Newcastle came into this one having lost their last three and having won the four matches before that. They now have four straight losses after four straight wins. Spurs were beaten at West Brom in their last outing, looking jaded but their home crowd lifted the tonight.
The first half was pulsating stuff, and Spurs began it better dominating the first five minutes.
In the ninth, a Christian Eriksen free kick brought out a great save from Martin Dubravka using his top hand which was arched over his head to claw it away. It’s worth finding a replay of the save as a masterclass in goalkeeping. It was that good.
The first of a few tame efforts on the night by Dwight Gayle was followed by the Toon’s best moment of the first half when Jonjo Shelvey hit the post with a free kick. At the other end, Victor Wanyama scooped a great chance weakly, wide and probably even high after a poor clearance gifted him opportunity.
Spurs are now out of Chelsea’s reach and may even finish third if they beat Leicester at home on Sunday
Hugo Lloris has been immense for Spurs this year and he illustrated how with a 26th minute save after his defence were unable to prevent a training ground corner which led to his opposing skipper Jamaal Lascelles launching a bullet header goalward.
Gayle headed tamely over and Jan Vertonghen fired straight at Dubravka to round out a half full of chances but bereft of goals.
It only took five minutes of the second and Harry Kane did the damage by curling the ball past Dubravka after receiving possession from Hyeung-Min Son, in a well worked move that also included Dele Alli. Newcastle coach Rafa Benitez will wonder how many times Spurs would have been able to pass the ball across the Newcastle 18 yard line without a tackle being made. His conclusion will be at least “one too many” probably worse.
Spurs were not to lose that lead. A Jan Vertonghen drive was spilled by the otherwise reliable Dubravka before the game’s only controversy.
12 minutes after half time, Lloris brought down Toon winger Matt Richie in the box after Ayoze Perez and DeAndre Yedlin had both miskicked fresh air shots. Referee Neil Swarbrick wanted none of it. Kennedy fired just wide minutes later and Newcastle continued to pile up statistics. Dele’s shot was too close to the keeper.
Newcastle kept creating chances. Substitute Jacob Murphy wasted one of the better ones having done the hard bit by leaving a defender floored. The angle created was admittedly tight but he blaster it high and wide.
Toby Alderweireld came on in 83 to great applause though that may have had more to do with the news being flashed across the scoreboard that Chelsea had failed to beat Huddersfield, and Arsenal had lost at Leicester.
That left Chelsea on 70 points with a game left. Spurs were minutes away from a win that would take them to 74 and out of the West London side’s reach.
Those minutes passed and Spurs were left to celebrate not only the win but being the top team in London and finishing at least fourth and maybe better.
