Tottenham Hotspur vs. Newcastle: final score 1-2: Magpies come back for a much-needed win

We have to admit, this early kickoff between Tottenham and Newcastle didn’t seem to have a lot going for it. Two teams not known for their scoring. The visitors already looking to be mired in a relegation fight. To top it off, Newcastle were modeling some truly terrible kits. Blue and green squares? Please.

Over at Turf Moor, Everton and Burnely were battling it out in a high-tempo, end-to-end game, but in London, the match seemed to drag. Spurs were able to pressure the Newcastle defense, but troubling Tim Krul seemed out of the question. The visitors, meanwhile, were ready to shoot from distance.

Still, it took less than twenty minutes for Tottenham to break through. Newcastle managed to hold off an attempt from Nacer Chadli, but Ryan Mason came through with a cross. Emmanuel Adebayor, lurking in front of goal, had no trouble heading past Krul.

The effect was immediate. While Eric Dier was still tying up his shorts, Ameobi slipped past on the left, leaving an embarrassed young man in his wake. Less than ten seconds after the break and Newcastle had their equalizer.

And before an hour had passed, the Magpies had turned things totally around. Unsurprisingly, the pace had picked up, and the end-to-end action that had been so lacking before was now entertaining viewers. And again, it was Pardew’s mid-game changes that made the difference. Cabella put in a perfect cross for Ayoze Pérez, who headed on to put Newcastle in front.

Mauricio Pochettino made changes after Newcastle’s second, but they were ultimately too little and possibly way too late. Newcastle had no trouble dealing with Aaron Lennon, on for the ineffective Erik Lamela, and Roberto Soldado was given just seven minutes after replacing Adebayor.

Goals: Adebayor 18’

Goals: Ameobi 46’, Perez 58’