Tottenham Hotspur’s difficult start to the Premier League season continued with a 2-0 home defeat by Newcastle United, leaving Roberto De Zerbi’s team without a goal or a point after their opening two matches.
Anthony Elanga broke the deadlock in the second half before Yoane Wissa added a late second, giving Newcastle a deserved victory and increasing the pressure on Spurs following last weekend’s 3-0 loss to Brentford.
The result will also intensify scrutiny of Tottenham’s £320m summer spending. The club brought in eight players during the transfer window, but the significant investment has yet to produce the improvement in performances and results that was expected.
Spurs began brightly at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and created several promising chances before the interval. Newcastle goalkeeper Lucas Hornicek had to intervene to deny efforts from Mathys Tel and Jan Paul van Hecke as the hosts searched for an early breakthrough.
Despite enjoying possession and producing attacking openings, Tottenham again struggled to turn their opportunities into goals. It was a problem that had also undermined their performance in their first match of the campaign.
Omar Marmoush made his Tottenham debut, but the forward was unable to provide the attacking spark De Zerbi’s side required. New signing Savio was absent after being ruled out with muscle fatigue, with the £75m winger unavailable for the home side.
The match also marked a difficult return to Newcastle for Sandro Tonali, who recently moved from the club to Tottenham in a £100m transfer. The midfielder was jeered by supporters of his former team during the game.
Newcastle grew in influence after half-time and began to take control of the contest. Their pressure eventually produced the opening goal midway through the second period.
Elanga, who endured an inconsistent campaign last season, continued his recent improvement after scoring against Liverpool in his previous appearance. The winger reacted quickly inside the penalty area, turned and struck towards goal. His effort hit the post but crossed the line to put Newcastle ahead.
Tottenham attempted to respond, with De Zerbi making three substitutions in an effort to change the direction of the match and find an equaliser. The changes did not have the intended effect, however, and Newcastle remained the more composed side.
The visitors secured the points late on through Wissa in unusual fashion. Substitute Nick Woltemade headed a corner back into the six-yard box, where Wissa was able to improvise with his back to goal.
The Newcastle forward hooked the ball over his head and into the net, making it 2-0 and putting the result beyond doubt.
The victory gives Newcastle their first three points of the new Premier League campaign and represents a significant improvement after the difficulties they experienced previously. For Tottenham, the defeat leaves De Zerbi searching for both a first goal and a first point, despite the club’s substantial investment over the summer.
