Spurs send Newcastle closer to relegation

By: j | April 19th, 2009

The threat of relegation continues to grow for Newcastle as they lost 1-0 to Tottenham at White Hart Lane on Sunday afternoon. At second from the table bottom, Newcastle will need roughly ten points in their remaining matches against Portsmouth, Liverpool, Middlesbrough, Fulham and Aston Villa. The situation is quite different in north-London as they near a berth in European football. The turn of events has been extraordinary in the last six months with the Spurs as Juande Ramos devastated the side only to be saved through the brilliant work of Harry Redknapp.

The start of the match provided little intrigue as both sides seemed overly cautious if not incapable. Newcastle’s attacking vision was non-existent in the first forty-five minutes and left traveling supporters agonizing over the possible demise of their club. Six minutes before the half-hour Tottenham ‘keeper (Heurelho) Gomes urged on Benoît Assou-Ekotto in a fast counter down the left flank. Quickly threading the ball to Luka Modrić who in trying to feed the ball through to Robbie Keane it was deflected by Sébastien Bassong straight to Darren Bent in the left side of the box. The England international first attempt was saved mightily by Steve Harper but the rebound was cut in from a tight angle to give the Spurs the one goal margin they would need. Without a visible attacking pulse, just past the hour Allan Shearer called up Obafemi Martins and Mark Viduka to join Michael Owen in an attacking trident as Newcastle searched for the needed goal. Service from the midfield was still lacking and fortune just didn’t seem to fall the Magpies way. A equalizing goal was called back for a handball, albeit a debatable call that many would have left and with seven minutes remaining Obafemi Martins courageous performance nearly concluded again with a goal but is close range effort went over the bar. As three minutes of stoppage time clicked down in what seemed to take hours, Newcastle now faces the daunting task of somehow fighting for survival. The match can be summed up probably best with a notable effort but shy of quality.

Newcastle return to action next Monday as they welcome Portsmouth to St James’ Park.