Tottenham outclassed by Newcastle as Champions League hopes dashed – Premier League hits and misses | Football News

Gordon’s skill and Howe’s tactics key

Anthony Gordon was instrumental in Newcastle’s 4-0 win over Tottenham at St James’ Park. It was his energy when urgent that sparked the shift in momentum within the build-up to the opening aim. Future Udogie had the burden benefit however was nonetheless outmuscled.

Gordon picked out Alexander Isak with the go, scored the second himself inside two minutes and even supplied the cross for Fabian Schar to make it 4 late on. An emphatic win and an emphatic efficiency from the previous Everton winger.

This was the primary time that he has been concerned in three targets in a single Premier League recreation and he now has extra aim involvements than anybody in dwelling matches this season. It needs to be sufficient for Gareth Southgate to take him away to Germany this summer time.

However this Newcastle win owed as a lot to Eddie Howe’s techniques as any particular person performer. It was spectacular how he was capable of nullify Tottenham’s build-up play by means of their inverted full-backs, even altering his personal workforce’s defensive form to do precisely that.

“Tottenham are distinctive in what they do and we felt we would have liked to alter to offer ourselves the most effective likelihood of what we wished to do. I believed tactically it labored, it was a very good supply from the gamers, they at all times deserve the reward for the execution.”

These gamers, Gordon amongst them, will obtain reward following such a shocking consequence. However this was a giant day for Howe too, his tactical acumen profitable the day.
Adam Bate

Heavy defeat big blow to Spurs’ CL hopes

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou mentioned forward of his facet’s conflict with Newcastle that there was “no motive” for him to look at final season’s 6-1 defeat at St James’ Park.

In hindsight, perhaps he needs he had.

The heavy defeat again in April – Newcastle had been 5-0 up after 21 minutes – proved to be the top of Spurs bid to qualify for the Champions League final season, and the massive defeat this time round may show simply as damaging to their hopes this yr.

Spurs had been second greatest in each division towards Newcastle as Eddie Howe tactically outthought Postecoglou. The change to a again 5 labored wonders for the hosts, who countered at will towards a lacklustre Spurs.

The 4-0 scoreline sees Postecoglou’s facet drop to fifth on aim distinction, with Aston Villa, who face Arsenal dwell on Sky Sports activities on Tremendous Sunday, shifting up a spot to fourth with out kicking a ball. And with England’s hopes of pipping Germany in the race for an extra Champions League spot set to go down to the wire, Spurs Champions League qualification hopes stay firmly within the steadiness.

It would not get any simpler for Spurs. They now must stew till April 28 after they face north London rivals Arsenal, dwell on Sky Sports activities earlier than video games towards Chelsea and Liverpool.
Oliver Yew

Doku dazzles with record touches in opposition box

It felt like Jeremy Doku was all over the place for Manchester Metropolis. Doku right here. Doku there.

Metropolis did do a whole lot of attacking towards Luton – because the 393 passes within the last third proves. And Doku was on the coronary heart of the fixed strain in direction of Thomas Kaminski’s aim. He recorded 23 touches within the Luton field – that is essentially the most of any participant in any recreation this season. Two of these actions led to a aim.

First when dancing previous Fred Onyedinma, whose drained legs may not resist the urge to have a nibble, and Erling Haaland stroked dwelling the penalty. Doku then grabbed the aim his exhibition of dribbling deserved with a masterful solo effort.

Pep Guardiola had described the Belgian as shy throughout the early phases of his Manchester Metropolis profession. He is now craving consideration – and defenders do not know cope with his direct and dazzling toes.
Lewis Jones

Muric mistake sums up Burnley’s failings

Earlier than Burnley’s recreation with Brighton, assistant supervisor Craig Bellamy vowed his facet would proceed their means of enjoying and never change their strategies within the face of relegation. Come full-time, he could also be rueing these phrases.

Burnley, with their possession-based model of play regardless of having an inferior-quality enjoying squad in comparison with most, have been too good this season when it comes to their lack of ruthlessness and easiness to play towards.

However then there was hope. Josh Brownhill’s opener towards Brighton briefly put them 4 factors away from security with a giant recreation away at Sheffield United to return subsequent week. Survival was nonetheless unbelievable however the nice escape was very a lot on.

Then got here Muric’s mistake – a pricey lack of focus from a secure back-pass – and that hope was gone.

Whereas it was a pricey particular person error, Burnley’s means of enjoying was partly in charge – Muric made 94 touches towards Brighton, essentially the most by a Premier League goalkeeper within the final eight seasons.

Sure, Muric ought to do so much higher within the second, however making an attempt to play out the again with 10 minutes to go in a must-win recreation is a part of the method at Turf Moor – when it should not e.

This lack of streetwise angle is why Burnley are more likely to be within the Championship subsequent season.
Sam Blitz

Will Frank start to use Toney sparingly even when fit?

I Am Maximus romped to victory within the Grand Nationwide, and whereas Brentford would ultimately win right here at a canter, they did so with out their very own gladiator. Ivan Toney remained within the secure, an unused substitute.

Having solely been referred to as upon towards Aston Villa final weekend after Ollie Watkins’ late equaliser, you start to surprise simply how far more will we see of Toney in a purple and white shirt.

Injured or not, Thomas Frank is aware of he has to begin getting ready his gamers for all times with out their talisman. Frank’s assault was nonetheless not fairly at full throttle, however right here they nonetheless carried greater than sufficient efficiency to increase Sheffield United’s abysmal away report.

The Blades, nonetheless with no clear sheet on the street, had been unable to capitalise on Toney’s absence.

The striker is on his lengthiest Premier League aim drought, having amassed 21 photographs and 36 touches within the opposition field throughout seven consecutive begins previous to his omission at Villa Park.

“Ivan Toney was ailing throughout the week, and his hip harm continues to be not good,” Frank mentioned afterwards. “Now now we have time to get him prepared for Luton and I am satisfied he shall be prepared.”

No Toney, no drawback for Brentford? Not fairly, but when he’s to be offered as anticipated this summer time, the return of Kevin Schade to health alongside Bryan Mbeumo means it could be good administration to make use of him sparingly within the remaining video games – no matter his health.
Ben Grounds

Cunha makes welcome return for Wolves

How Wolves have missed Matheus Cunha. The Brazilian was injured early on towards Brentford in February, having scored twice within the win over Chelsea within the earlier match. He delivered one other two targets on his return to the beginning line-up at Nottingham Forest.

The primary of these targets was a high-quality instance of what he brings that others can’t. A robust run from deep, a wise flip to elude the defender and an emphatic end. His second was an atypical poacher’s effort to take his Premier League complete for the season to 11.

It was not sufficient to win the sport for Wolves. Cunha was withdrawn with the sport within the steadiness, a nod to the truth that he’s nonetheless forward of schedule – the preliminary prognosis for his muscle harm was that he ought to nonetheless be on the therapy desk, not the pitch.

Gary O’Neil should be questioning what might need been had he felt capable of name upon Cunha for the FA Cup quarter-final towards Coventry when teenager Nathan Fraser was requested to steer the road as a substitute. With Cunha again, Wolves are at all times capable of pose a menace.
Adam Bate

Gibbs-White grit gives Forest a fighting chance

Grudge and grievance bubbled beneath the floor. How Nottingham Forest would have liked to get the higher of their Midlands neighbours in league competitors for the primary time since 2018.

Morgan Gibbs-White taunted the Wolves followers that used to applaud him after scoring his fifth league aim of the marketing campaign. Had Forest gone on to win the sport, clawing themselves three factors away from the drop zone, your entire episode would have been justified.

However goading his former employers was maybe just a little ill-advised given what truly transpired 5 minutes later – a Matheus Cunha equaliser. Gibbs-White does, nonetheless, stay key to Forests’ survival hopes and their future is crucially in their very own arms.

The significance positioned on upcoming video games towards Everton, Sheffield United and Burnley is rising by the week. 5 video games to rescue a season.

Forest have struggle, that is for positive. However have they got sufficient high quality, consistency and nerve to face up in video games towards direct relegation rivals, with the results so grave? Not so positive.
Laura Hunter

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