Alexander Isak scored twice as Newcastle United claimed an emphatic 4-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at St James’ Park, a result that had echoes of their 6-1 home win in the same fixture last season.
With Aston Villa not in action until they face Premier League title hopefuls Arsenal on Sunday, Spurs were hoping to consolidate their place in the top four. Instead, Ange Postecoglou’s team slipped down to fifth on goal difference after a demolition job from the injury-hit Magpies.
Quickfire first-half goals from Isak and the brilliant Anthony Gordon put Eddie Howe’s team in control.
Isak doubled his tally after half-time, with Fabian Schar’s towering header in the closing stages adding further gloss to a comprehensive win that further boosted the hosts’ European hopes.
Timo Werner spurned two fantastic early chances for Spurs, skewing wide on both occasions after good work from Brennan Johnson and James Maddison respectively.
His profligacy proved costly on the half-hour.
Having done brilliantly to win a long ball, Gordon poked a pass through to Isak who coolly sent Micky van de Ven tumbling before impressively curling in his 20th goal of the season in all competitions.
Gordon turned from provider to scorer as Newcastle doubled their tally 95 seconds later. The former Everton winger latched onto Pedro Porro’s dreadful backpass, calmly sidestepped Van de Ven’s rash attempt at a recovery and smashed in from close range.
Porro’s game was cut short early in the second half, the Spurs full-back forced off with an apparent hamstring injury which he sustained while bursting across to deny Isak a second goal from a well-worked set-piece.
But there was no denying the Swede in the 51st minute. Isak latched onto Bruno Guimaraes’ excellent pass over Spurs’ incredibly high line, with Van de Ven standing as the last defender inside Newcastle’s half, before keeping his composure to slide another superb finish beyond Guglielmo Vicario.
After Emil Krafth hit the post, Schar capped off a superb performance with a fantastic header from Gordon’s corner as the Magpies gained revenge for a 4-1 defeat in the reverse fixture and moved, temporarily at least, into sixth place.
Spurs will now hope for a favour from their north London rivals Arsenal on Sunday, with the Gunners hosting fourth-placed Aston Villa.
It will then be Spurs’ turn to face Arsenal in their next match on 28 April, after Postecoglou’s side have had a 15-day break.
