“Horrible” – Journalist tells Spurs fans the moment that left Ange fuming on Sunday

Tottenham Hotspur’s first Premier League defeat of the season came at the hands of Newcastle United, with a late goal from Alexander Isak sealing a 2-1 loss for Ange Postecoglou’s side at St James’ Park. This defeat was particularly hard to swallow for Postecoglou, who was left fuming on the sidelines due to missed opportunities and a controversial booking.

In a match where Tottenham dominated possession and created numerous scoring opportunities, the final result did not reflect their performance. Despite controlling 66% of the ball and registering 20 shots compared to Newcastle’s 9, Spurs were unable to capitalize on their chances, ultimately paying the price for their inefficiency in front of goal.

The statistics tell the story of a game that Tottenham should have won. According to Fotmob, Spurs had a higher expected goals (xG) value of 1.26 compared to Newcastle’s 1.83, indicating that Tottenham created quality chances but failed to convert them into goals.

This inefficiency was highlighted by the fact that Spurs missed two big chances during the game, while Newcastle converted their opportunities with clinical precision.

Postecoglou was visibly frustrated after the match, as he reflected on what could have been. “Another one that got away from us. We played well enough, certainly had the chances to win the game comfortably but you walk away with nothing, so [it’s a] bitter pill to swallow but it is what it is,” the Spurs head coach lamented.

He pointed out that Tottenham was in control for much of the game, especially after equalizing. “We created chances and if you don’t get the second goal when you have the momentum… I thought we were in control of the game, we were playing in their half. The ‘keeper’s pulled off a couple of really good saves. We had the opportunities to test him even further but we didn’t,” Postecoglou explained.

His frustration stemmed from Tottenham’s inability to find a winner despite their dominance. “The amount of chances we have, we really should be getting more than what we’re getting as a return at the moment,” he added, highlighting the team’s struggle to convert opportunities into goals.

One specific incident during the match that left Postecoglou particularly incensed occurred late in the second half. With Tottenham pushing for a winner, they became vulnerable to Newcastle’s counter-attacks.

As Anthony Gordon broke away down the left touchline, Rodrigo Bentancur made a firm sliding tackle, appearing to make strong contact with the ball. However, the referee deemed the challenge reckless and issued a booking to Bentancur, much to Postecoglou’s displeasure.

This booking added to the frustration for Tottenham, as it disrupted their rhythm and halted their momentum at a crucial juncture of the game. Postecoglou’s anger was evident on the sidelines, as he believed Bentancur’s challenge was fair and that the booking was harsh.

As Tottenham head into the international break, they find themselves in 10th place in the Premier League. The upcoming North London derby against Arsenal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium now takes on even greater significance.

Spurs will need to regroup and address the issues that have plagued them in recent matches, particularly their inability to finish off games when they are in control.

The derby will be a true test of Tottenham’s resilience and Postecoglou’s tactical acumen. With key players returning from injury, Spurs will be looking to bounce back and secure a crucial victory against their fierce rivals. However, they must improve their efficiency in front of goal and avoid the lapses in concentration that have cost them points in recent matches.

The referee thought otherwise, penalising the Tottenham substitute and dishing out a yellow card for good measure.The decision, dubbed “woeful” by Tottenham journalist Alasdair Gold, left Postecoglou perplexed and irate, and Gold added that the Spurs boss “made his feelings known” to both the referee and fourth official.

Though an improvement on the 4-0 thrashing that Spurs suffered last season at St James’ Park, the defeat raises many of the same questions about Postecoglou’s side, chiefly their inefficiency in both penalty areas, which is sure to cost them throughout the season unless they can find a fix, sharpish.

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