Heung-Min Son’s late goal finally broke down Newcastle’s resistance as Tottenham earned a 1-0 win at Wembley in the Premier League on Saturday.
The South Korean, who has now scored two in two since returning from the Asia Cup, saw a low effort from the edge of the box creep under the body of Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka (83), who will feel he should have done better.
In an entertaining clash, Lucas Moura missed a fine opportunity in the first half, heading wide in space, Erik Lamela hit the woodwork with his own headed effort, while at the other end after half-time Salomon Rondon also nodded against the far post.
Player ratings
Tottenham: Lloris (7), Trippier (7), Alderweireld (7), Sanchez (7), Vertonghen (7), Lamela (6), Winks (7), Sissoko (6), Eriksen (8), Son (8), Moura (6)
Subs: Llorente (7), Rose (NA), Dier (NA)
Newcastle: Dubravka (4), Yedlin (6), Lejeune (6), Schar (6), Lascelles (6), Ritchie (6), Hayden (6), Longstaff (6), Atsu (6), Perez (6), Rondon (7)
Subs: Kenedy (NA), Barreca (NA)
Man of the match: Heung-Min Son
Christian Eriksen saw a cute flick cleared off the line by Fabian Schar, before Son’s late winner.
The result means Tottenham have gone 29 league games without a draw, breaking a Premier League record, and puts Mauricio Pochettino’s side second in the Premier League for 24 hours at least before Manchester City’s clash with Arsenal on Super Sunday.
Freezing conditions overnight brought concern in the early stages at Wembley, with large ice clumps falling onto the pitch from the famous arch at the national stadium, narrowly avoiding both Dubravka and Spurs’ Kieran Trippier.
Wednesday’s match-winner Fernando Llorente will have raised an eyebrow from the bench as Spurs went close with two first-half headers.
First, Moura headed wide in acres of space from eight yards from Lamela’s deft cross, before the Argentine hit the upright with a more difficult headed chance moments later from Jan Vertonghen’s bouncing cross.
What’s next?
Tottenham now host Leicester on Super Sunday on February 10, at 1.30pm, while Newcastle are at Wolves on Monday Night Football on February 11, at 8pm.
