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- Spurs鈥� ambition of a top- four finish already looks over after a run of one win in eight league games since a stunning 4-0 victory at Premier League champions Manchester City.
- Tottenham sit 11th in the table, but a spirited performance from Postecoglou鈥檚 stretched squad deserved more as Newcastle were left clinging on in the closing stages.
LONDON: Under-fire Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou said he was angry his injury-ravaged side did not get their rewards for a battling performance as Alexander Isak鈥檚 strike earned in-form Newcastle a 2-1 win on Saturday.
Both sides struck inside the first six minutes as Anthony Gordon鈥檚 controversial equalizer canceled out Dominic Solanke鈥檚 opener for Spurs. Isak then scored for the seventh consecutive Premier League game to claim a sixth straight win in all competitions for Newcastle.
The Magpies remain in fifth but move level on points with fourth- placed Chelsea in the battle for a place in next season鈥檚 Champions League. Spurs鈥� ambition of a top-four finish already looks over after a run of one win in eight league games since a stunning 4-0 victory at Premier League champions Manchester City.
Tottenham sit 11th in the table, but a spirited performance from Postecoglou鈥檚 stretched squad deserved more as Newcastle were left clinging on in the closing stages.
鈥淚鈥檓 so proud, so happy with this group of players the way they played and I鈥檓 really angry that they didn鈥檛 get the rewards they deserved today,鈥� said Postecoglou.
鈥淚 loved everything. The players were given an enormous task and didn鈥檛 make any excuses. We deserved to win the game today.鈥�
Spurs were without first-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario along with defenders Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, Destiny Udogie and Ben Davies through injury plus the suspended Rodrigo Bentancur.
The loss of stand-in 鈥榢eeper Fraser Forster to illness meant Postecoglou was forced to throw in Brandon Austin for his Spurs debut.
Slow starts, particularly at home, have been a major part of Spurs鈥� struggles under Postecoglou but they got off to a flyer. In front of the watching new England manager Thomas Tuchel, Solanke did his case for international recognition no harm with a fine downward header from Pedro Porro鈥檚 cross on four minutes.
The lead lasted barely over two minutes, albeit the equal- izer arrived in controversial circumstances.
Joelinton blocked Lucas Bergvall鈥檚 pass with his arm to gift Bruno Guimaraes possession and the Brazilian fed in Gordon to fire home. However, a VAR review deemed Joelinton鈥檚 handball was not deliberate and the goal stood. Isak needs no help to find the net on current form but got it from an under-manned Spurs defense seven minutes before half-time.
Radu Dragusin deflected Jacob Murphy鈥檚 low cross onto the foot of the Swedish striker, who took his tally for the season to 14 goals in all competitions.
Spurs were dealt a further blow as Dragusin, who had been a doubt due to illness, was forced off at the break, leaving Postecoglou without a single natural center back to choose from.
Midfielder Archie Gray and fullback Djed Spence deputized manfully as Tottenham did all the pressing in the second half.
Brennan Johnson blasted off the post after Pape Sarr鈥檚 effort had been parried by Martin Dubravka.