Anthony Gordon’s controversial goal, followed by Alexander Isak’s winner, saw Newcastle beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 for a sixth straight win in all competitions to move level on points with fourth-placed Chelsea.
After Dominic Solanke’s 4th-minute opener, Spurs were held on by Gordon’s 6th-minute equalizer when the ball hit Joelinton’s hand, but VAR allowed the goal to stand because “his hand was at his side, in a natural position and the contact was accidental was”.
Former Premier League referee Mike Dean agreed with the decision Football week as Joelinton’s supposed handball “simply didn’t lead to a goal” after the deflection fell to Bruno Guimaraes, before Gordon expertly beat Spurs debutant Brandon Austin.
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Former Premier League referee Mike Dean insists Newcastle’s equalizer at Tottenham was rightly allowed to stand after Joelinton’s alleged handball.
It meant Eddie Howe’s fifth side piled on more misery at injury-ravaged Tottenham, who finished without an established centre-back, leaving Ange Postecoglou’s side without a win in their last six Premier League home games and 11th in the table them closer to the relegation zone than the top four.
New England boss Thomas Tuchel, in his first match as Three Lions manager, will have been delighted to see the two England players score their first two goals in north London as Solanke headed Spurs ahead in the fourth minute.
But just 140 seconds later, Gordon controversially equalized despite a lengthy VAR review for Joelinton’s alleged handball.
Furious Ange Postecoglou reacted to Newcastle’s 2-1 equalizer against Tottenham.
An exasperated Postecoglou then saw his side lose momentum as Newcastle piled up the pressure, which eventually showed in the 38th minute when Aleksandar Isak maintained his red-hot form by slotting home from close range to score for a seventh consecutive Premier League game.
Alexander Isak scored the winning goal
Postecoglou’s injury then worsened as full-back Jed Spence moved to centre-back in the second half after Radu Dragusin was substituted at half-time and Spurs’ absentee list reached double figures.
Despite scrambling defending, Spurs pushed for a second-half equalizer as Brennan Johnson hit the post, while substitutes James Maddison and Sergio Reguillon both had efforts wide.
But Newcastle have made the perfect start to 2025 to put more pressure on Postecoglou as both sides now await the first legs of their Carabao Cup semi-final, with Newcastle hosting Arsenal on Tuesday and Tottenham hosting Liverpool on Wednesday. both live. Sky Sports.
