Crunch time; can we get the points against Newcastle United?

Crunch time; can we get the points against Newcastle United?

Since we came back from the lockdown, we haven't covered ourselves in glory. Before the Arsenal game, I could only see disaster, then we played them, and my optimism returned ( but I am still concerned). If we can beat Newcastle, we then have Leicester at home (their form has dipped of late), which will be followed by Palace away. If we can win all games and hope a few above us lose then we could be in the Europa-Thursday-football-League. Wouldn't that be exciting!

TEAM NEWS

Newcastle have several fitness concerns for our visit, with Jamaal Lascelles set to miss out because of injury after being substituted in the defeat against Watford. Isaac Hayden and Sean Longstaff are both major doubts.

We are still without Eric Dier, who serves the third match of a four-game ban because of a moment of madness. Alli is expected to miss the game with a hamstring injury.

Because of Aurier's brother being shot dead, it is unlikely he will play. However, Aurier's absence coincides with the return of Japhet Tanganga, who was among the substitutes against Arsenal.

My thoughts and prediction

The Magpies have lost their past two games, against Manchester City and Watford, and they are safe in mid-table with not much to play for other than pride; and it is pride that can do a lot of damage (so we must be warned!).

We, on the other hand, won our north London derby at the weekend. But we still have a lot to work on if we want any chance of Thursday football, but where there is life, there will always be Cockerel crowing.

Mourinho pulled off a tactical stroke against Arsenal by fielding a 4-4-1-1, but a return to 4-3-3 is possible against Newcastle. Which could mean a recall for Erik Lamela.

My prediction: 0-2

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

Newcastle are looking to record their first Premier League double over Spurs in four years, following their 1-0 away win in August.

We have won four of the last five Premier League meetings at St James' Park, having only managed three victories in the first 19.

On top of that, we can secure three consecutive away wins against Newcastle in all competitions for the first time since January 1975.

Newcastle United

Newcastle are unbeaten in six home league matches and have only lost three of their 17 top-flight fixtures at St James' Park this season (W6, D8).

The last time the Magpies lost no more than three home games in a Premier League campaign was in 2011-12.

However, they could sustain three successive Premier League losses for the first time since 1 January.

They have scored only one first-half goal in their past 10 Premier League home games.

Newcastle have scored 36% of their league goals via set-pieces. Only Bournemouth, with 47%, have scored a higher proportion.

Dwight Gayle has three goals in five Premier League appearances, having failed to score in his 12 previous matches.

Miguel Almiron has scored one goal and assisted another in his past three Premier League home games, matching his total tally from the first 19 league matches at St James' Park.

Tottenham Hotspur

We have lost just once in six games since the restart (W3, D2).

We have earned an unsurpassed four Premier League wins after conceding the first goal this season.

Nonetheless, we are guaranteed our lowest final points tally in a season since 2008-09.

Jose Mourinho has managed seven fixtures at St James' Park without a victory, his longest winless away run at any Premier League ground. Mourinho's four defeats at Newcastle are also his highest number of losses at one Premier League stadium.

Harry Kane is one short of 200 club goals in all competitions: 183 for Spurs, nine for Millwall, five for Leyton Orient and two for Leicester City. So, we will be cheering him along. But not just for the one, hopefully, he will get bucket loads (dream big… hope for the best, but be prepared for the worst… after all, it is Tottenham we are talking about here).

An Away victory will do us in good stead. With the Arsenal and West Ham results in the bag (and two draws), a win over Newcastle will mean there is still plenty to play for… but only just.

Since the beginning of the season and our downward dip has set the depression in, but lately, I have seen hope at the end of the tunnel… even though it is only a flicker of hope…

As for next season; there is still confusion over the virus and whether we can go to the stadium and cheer our team along… then there are away matches. But it is all about the moment, let us worry about next season at a later date (put it off until it is suddenly upon us, strangling the lifeblood out of our very existence; just as always!).

Best Regards, Glenn

COYS!