Spurs v Newcastle United. Premier League, Sunday. 2pm KO
After our disastrous and poor performance against Everton at the beginning of the season, we’ve had three straight wins. Two in the Europa League and one in Premier League (away to Southampton). We need to keep the ball rolling and get an excellent result against Mike Ashley’s advertisers.
TEAM NEWS
We are expected to rotate our squad following Thursday’s Europa League win in North Macedonia, but still a strong squad. Matt Doherty, Hugo Lloris, Eric Dier and Lucas Moura are all set to return after being rested, but Gareth Bale is sidelined with a knee injury. As for Newcastle United, their winger Allan Saint-Maximin has an ankle injury. However, he will be assessed, while Ciaran Clark is out with a thigh problem. Jamal Lewis is a significant doubt due to an eye injury sustained last weekend.
My prediction and thoughts.
I am expecting the excellent run to continue and I am going for a 4-0 or 4-1 victory. Both sides have had one outstanding performance and result in the Premier League so far this season – and one very bad one too. Even though Bale isn’t playing, I have no doubt that he will have a strong influence on the team; he will inspire them. And of course, they will fight hard for their positions.
Steve Bruce is winless in all 11 fixtures as a manager against Jose Mourinho in all competitions (D2, L9).
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
Newcastle have won a joint-club record 22 Premier League matches versus us.
We have won five of the past six meetings but lost our last home fixture against Newcastle in August 2019. That victory was a fourth in six away league meetings for the Magpies. They are also one short of 200 top-flight goals against us.
Tottenham Hotspur
We could lose our opening two Premier League home fixtures for just the third time, after 1995-96 and 2008-09.
Jose Mourinho has only once lost two of the opening three league matches in a season in his career, having done so with Manchester United in 2018-19.
Harry Kane’s four assists against Southampton matched his total tally from the previous 43 Premier League appearances.
Kane and Son have combined for 24 Premier League goals since 2015-16, the best return of any duo during that period.
Newcastle United
Newcastle could win two of their opening three league fixtures for just the second time in 18 seasons. They last did so under Alan Pardew in 2011-12.
The Magpies can triumph in their first two away matches for only the third time in the Premier League, and first since 1995-96.
They are vying to keep three successive clean sheets on the road for the first time since 2008.
We are the only established top-six team Callum Wilson has failed to score against, despite facing us for 509 minutes. And may it continue.
Mourinho is starting to mould his team into his thinking. A few rough edges; get two more players (a striker & defender), and we can really challenge for top honours. Add Bale – and keep him fit – and the sky could be the limit.
Best Regards, Glenn
COYS!
