This is the most played Premier League fixture never to finish goalless, with the 61 meetings producing 196 goals at an average of 3.2 per game. True to form, December's reverse fixture ended in a dramatic 2-2 draw, with Tottenham twice coming from behind late on to earn a point thanks to Cristian Romero's 95th-minute overhead kick. Just as Romero eased the mounting pressure on head coach Thomas Frank two months ago by preventing a sixth defeat in eight games for Spurs, he has added to it with his recent words and deeds.
This is the most played Premier League fixture never to finish goalless, with the 61 meetings producing 196 goals at an average of 3.2 per game.
True to form, December's reverse fixture ended in a dramatic 2-2 draw, with Tottenham twice coming from behind late on to earn a point thanks to Cristian Romero's 95th-minute overhead kick.
Spurs 'desperate to win games'
Just as Romero eased the mounting pressure on head coach Thomas Frank two months ago by preventing a sixth defeat in eight games for Spurs, he has added to it with his recent words and deeds.
At the end of a week in which Romero publicly took aim at the club's hierarchy for the second time in a month, the team captain incurred a red card and four-match ban on Saturday for his forceful challenge on Manchester United midfielder Casemiro.
Frank, who has repeatedly defended Romero, admitted on Monday that players and staff are "desperate to win games" - Spurs and Burnley are the only sides not to do so in the Premier League this calendar year.
Spurs had 10 players out at the weekend, and Destiny Udogie now faces a month out because of the hamstring injury he sustained at Old Trafford. Nonetheless, the team's form - even preceding Frank - makes for damning reading:
- Tottenham are on a seven-match winless league run for the third time since the start of last season – they hadn't previously gone that long without a victory since 2008.
- They've only managed two wins in 16 top-flight games since the start of November, drawing six and losing eight.
- Spurs have won just four of 26 home league fixtures, suffering 15 defeats.
- In the 14 months since 16 December 2024, Tottenham have won more matches in Europe (12 of 18) than in the Premier League (11 of 47).
Defiant Howe has problems to fix
Like Spurs, Newcastle are a big club at a crossroads in their season. They've suffered three successive league defeats and only won one of their past nine matches, excluding the FA Cup penalty shootout success against Bournemouth.
In the build-up to this game, head coach Eddie Howe said there's "no doubt" in his mind that he's best-placed to restore Newcastle's fortunes. "If I didn't think I was the correct man to take the team forward, and I couldn't give the players what they need, then I would step aside and let someone else do it."
Newcastle's poor away form – two league wins in 15 attempts on the road – is one of several issues for Howe to fix.
Another was highlighted by Romero's last-gasp equaliser for Spurs in December and also when Brentford scored a late winner at St James' Park on Saturday. It means Newcastle have dropped 19 points from winning positions this season, more than any other Premier League side.
Category: General Sports
