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Commentary
Minute
Description
90' +3
Newcastle try to push forward on one last attacking move after a Tottenham attack breaks down, but Isaac's pass up to Manquillo is mistimed and rolls out for a throw-in. That should be that.
90' +2
Kane has it in the back of the net, but he's denied again! Once more, Son and Kane link up well before this time the striker is seemingly able to score, but the linesman's flag is quickly raised after Son's run into the box was slightly mistimed.
90' +1
Kane hits the post! Son threads a lovely through-ball into the Newcastle box and towards Kane, who only has Elliot to beat. He quickly shoots from 12 yards out, but his effort ends up smashing off the woodwork after getting the better of the goalkeeper.
90'
H. Winks enters the game and replaces M. Dembélé.
Tottenham have mde a late substitution, with Dembele making way for Harry Winks.
The fourth official has indicated that there will be three minutes of added time.
89'
Son tries to weave his way into the left-hand side of the Newcastle penalty area after bursting forward, but there are plenty of black and white shirts around the South Korean and he's comfortably dispossessed before he can do so.
87'
Chance for Clark! The resulting set-piece isn't fully dealt with by Tottenham and the ball quickly drops to Clark, who manages to get a shot away but can't beat Lloris with his slightly tame volleyed effort.
86'
B. Davies gets yellow.
Davies clatters into Manquillo and sends the Spaniard crashing to the ground, resulting in a free-kick for Newcastle in a dangerous position and a yellow card for the defender.
85'
Newcastle are throwing plenty of bodies back as they try to find a way back into the game at this late stage. Another dangerous cross is thumped into the heart of the box, but this time it's Jan Vertonghen who's there to deal with the threat.
83'
Atsu goes close to scoring! A looping cross from Manquillo finds Hayden, who then nods it over to the far post. Atsu pops up and quickly pokes a shot towards goal, but it smashes into the side-netting from a few yards out.
82'
V. Wanyama enters the game and replaces D. Alli.
Victor Wanyama comes on for Alli, who is booed by the Newcastle fans as he leaves.
Minute
Description
81'
More good play by Atsu sees him sprint into a good position out wide before firing in a cross, but it's well dealt with by Alderweireld before it can find a team-mate in front of goal.
80'
Atsu, who has arguably been one of Newcastle's better performers today, flies down the left wing and towards the penalty area on a wonderful run. He then manages to shoot from just outside of the box, and his low strike forces Lloris into making a decent diving save.
79'
Space opens up for Javier Manquillo over on the right wing and allows him to float a ball into the box, but it's sent far too near to Lloris and sails straight into the hands of the Frenchman.
78'
Dier goes close! The midfielder is left in a pocket of space 25 yards away from goal and manages to unleash a thumping strike, but it receives a slight deflection that sends it bouncing a yard or so wide of the far post.
76'
Mikel Merino enters the game and replaces D. Gayle.
Newcastle have made their first unforced substitution of the afternoon, with Mikel Merino coming on to replace Gayle.
74'
A hopeful pass is fired up to the Tottenham penalty and towards Gayle, who has barely had a sniff of the ball since Shelvey's sending off. It almost manages to find the striker, but Lloris is there to easily collect the ball.
72'
Almost a chance for Kane! Eriksen threads a lovely through-ball into the box and towards Kane, but Elliot reads the danger well and is able to get to the ball ahead of the Tottenham striker.
70'
B. Davies has scored a goal for Tottenham Hotspur! Assist by C. Eriksen.
Eriksen picks up his second assist of what is proving to be a great game for the Dane. He made an excellent run into the penalty area and showed wonderful understanding with both Alli and Kane in the build-up.
GOAL! It's 2-0 to Tottenham! Alli and Kane pull off a lovely one-two on the edge of the Newcastle penalty area before the latter finds Eriksen, who then quickly sets up Davies to side-foot a lovely low shot under Elliot and into the back of the net.
69'
After a lengthy period on the back foot, Newcastle are able to push forward on a rare attack down the right flank. Hayden does well to skip towards the byline before crossing, but it's poorly hit and sails behind for a goal-kick.
67'
More good play by Walker-Peters out wide results in another corner for Tottenham. It's swung in by Eriksen and almost finds Alderweireld, but it flies just a few inches over the top of the Belgian's head.
65'
Walker-Peters chips a clever pass into the right-hand side of the Newcastle box and onto the head of Son, but the South Korean can't make decent contact with the ball and sends it bouncing straight to Mbemba.
63'
It could end up being a very long half-an-hour for Newcastle. They've been pushed incredibly deep into their own half of the pitch, and Tottenham can clearly smell blood.
61'
D. Alli has scored a goal for Tottenham Hotspur! Assist by C. Eriksen.
GOAL! Alli fires Tottenham into the lead! The visitors keep putting Newcastle under pressure as they pile bodies forward. Eriksen then chips a delightful pass over the defence and into the path of Alli, who meets it well and beats Elliot with his first-time half-volley.
That was great play by Eriksen. The Dane was slightly quiet during the first half but has been increasingly dangerous since the break.
60'
Walker-Peters overlaps nicely deep down the right flank before manging to fire a dangerous cross towards the near post, but it just about dealt with by Mbemba before Kane can latch on to it.
58'
Son Heung-Min enters the game and replaces M. Sissoko.
A shower of boos rain down on Sissoko as he's replaced by Heung-Min Son.
57'
A high cross loops into the heart of the Newcastle box almost manages to find Sissoko in front of goal, but Elliot is there to beat the Frenchman to the ball before receiving an almighty whack.
56'
Davies is clumsily caught with his back to the Newcastle goal, and Tottenham are awarded a free-kick. It's sent short and worked up to Alli, who's quickly closed down and can't find a way into the hosts' penalty area.
54'
Tottenham patiently work the ball from one flank to the other as they try to find a way through on goal, but Newcastle remain solid and compact at the back and deal with the danger comfortably.
52'
M. Ritchie gets yellow.
Matt Ritchie lashes out at Alli as the midfielder tries to break down the right flank, and he catches him with a poorly timed challenge. It leaves the referee with no choice but to show him a yellow card once the ball finally goes out of play.
51'
Great save by Elliot! Eriksen chips a lovely pass over the top of the Newcastle defence and into the path of Kane, who only has Elliot to beat. He quickly unleashes a thumping shot from close range, but the goalkeeper pulls off an excellent stop to deny the striker.
49'
Big chance for Gayle! Despite being a man down, Newcastle fly forward and carve out a chance on goal for themselves. Atsu does really well to get into the box and set up Gayle, who quickly shoots but can't beat Lloris at the near post.
48'
J. Shelvey goes off after a red card!
RED CARD! Huge decision by the referee! Alli gives away a free-kick inside the Newcastle half of the pitch but holds onto the ball to stop Shelvey from taking the set-piece quickly. The midfielder then steps on Alli's ankle as the two trade angry words, and the referee quickly shows a red card.
46'
We're underway once again!
45' +3
After easily dealing with the danger, Newcastle hit Tottenham on another swift counter-attack. Perez flies towards the penalty area and tees up Gayle, who then swings a looping cross over to the far post, but Lloris is there to beat Shelvey to the ball.
45' +2
Alli is caught from by Isaac Hayden around 35 yards away from the Newcastle goal, resulting in a free-kick for Tottenham in a promising position. Eriksen steps up and chips a pass into the box, but it's poorly hit and fails to result in a chance on goal.
45'
The fourth official has indicated that there will be three minutes of added time.
44'
Space opens up for Eriksen in the middle of the pitch, allowing him to break forward on his first decent run of the afternoon. He then shoots from 25 yards out, but it's a poor decision and Elliot easily stops the midfielder's tame effort.
43'
Atsu cuts inside from the left flank and easily gets the better of two Tottenham players before trying to skip into the box, but Dembele dives into the Ghanaian and dispossesses him with a great sliding tackle.
41'
Sissoko and Eriksen play a quick one-two between themselves on the edge of the hosts' penalty area before the Dane manages to get a shot away, but it swings straight into the hands of Elliot in the middle of the goal.
39'
Alli holds up the ball well on the left-hand side of the Newcastle box before spinning and finding Davies. The full-back then tries to pick out Kane inside the penalty area, but his cross is poorly hit and is easily dealt with by Lascelles.
37'
It's proving to be a tough first half for Tottenham, who have seen plenty of the ball inside the hosts' half of the pitch but are struggling to do much with it. Kane has remained pretty isolated in front of goal, whilst neither Eriksen nor Alli have made much of an impact so far.
35'
Walker-Peters causes more problems for the Newcastle back line as he sprints down the right wing, and he does well to win his side another corner. It's fired in by Eriksen and finds Alderweireld, who rises high but gives away a free-kick for a push on his marker.
34'
C. Mbemba enters the game and replaces F. Lejeune.
Lejeune will play no further part in the game, as Benitez has been forced into replacing him with Chancel Mbemba.
33'
More good play by Atsu sees him beat Walker-Peters before firing a low cross into the penalty area, where Gayle tries to latch onto the ball but has to settle for a corner. The set-piece is sent in deep by Shelvey and picks out Lascelles, who tries to turn and find a team-mate but can't stop the ball from rolling out for a goal-kick.
32'
The follow-through from Kane seemed to catch Lejeune nastily, and the centre-back seems to be really struggling with his ankle. He's struggling to put weight on it and may have to be replaced.
31'
H. Kane gets yellow.
Kane does really well to hold up the ball just inside the Tottenham half of the pitch before spinning and trying to plough forward. He can't get the better of Lejeune though, and he then brings the defender crashing to the ground with a hefty sliding challenge from behind that earns him a yellow card.
30'
The corner initially doesn't result in a chance on goal before finding Atsu again, and the winger wins another corner after being well tackled by Walker-Peters. Shelvey tries to catch out Lloris at his near post, but Kane is there to get his body in the way of the ball.
29'
Nervy moments at the back for Tottenham! Another attempted Tottenham attack fails to come to anything, and Atsu hits the visitors on another quick dart down the left wing. He breaks into the box and squares a pass across the face of goal, but there's nobody there to meet it and Davies can fire the ball behind for a corner.
27'
Eriksen goes close! Tottenham try to hit the home side on a counter-attack of their own, but Newcastle do well to quickly get plenty of bodies back. Eriksen is just about able to get a shot away, however, and it bounces only a yard or two wide of the far post.
26'
Newcastle counter quickly through Perez and Atsu, the latter of whom does well to win a corner over on the left wing. It's sent short and worked back to Clark, who then fires a poor cross straight into the hands Hugo Lloris.
25'
Walker-Peters gets the better of Clark just outside of the box and then fires a dangerous low cross into the box. It manages to find Sissoko, but the former Newcastle man's first-time strike isn't the best and sails high up into the air.
23'
It's all kicking off! Lascelles dives into Alli and dispossesses the Tottenham midfielder with a crunching tackle, and it's one that the England international doesn't seem to like too much. He gives the defender a bit of a shoulder-barge in the aftermath and starts a slight fracas between the two, but it's easily brought to an end by the referee.
21'
Walker-Peters battles with Ciaran Clark deep down the right flank as he tries to latch on to a long ball forward from Alderweireld, but he's fouled by the Irishman and wins a free-kick instead. Eriksen's swinging cross picks out Kane perfectly, but the striker can't make decent contact with the ball just a few yards out.
19'
Alli is closed down and dispossessed by a group of Newcastle players, and the home side then try to kick-start a quick counter-attack. Shelvey fires a lofted pass up towards Gayle on the halfway line, but the striker is quickly beaten to the ball by Eric Dier.
17'
Vital clearance by Walker-Peters! The youngster is involved in the thick of the action once again, but this time he's able to clear the danger with an important interception. Ayoze Perez looks to be in on goal after getting the better of Toby Alderweireld, but Walker-Peters is there to stop the Spaniard from getting a shot away.
16'
Let off for Walker-Peters! Newcastle win themselves a free-kick, which is quickly poked into the penalty area by Jonjo Shelvey. Gayle darts onto the ball before going down under a challenge from Walker-Peters, but, luckily for the young defender, the linesman's flag is raised as soon as the Newcastle players and fans start screaming for a penalty.
14'
Walker-Peters launches a long ball down the right wing and towards Sissoko, who loses out to Lejeune but wins a throw-in that quickly turns into a corner. The set-piece is played short and Eriksen then curls a cross into the middle of the box, but Rob Elliot is there to collect the ball.
12'
Ben Davies swings in the resulting corner and manages to pick out Sissoko at the near post, but the Frenchman can't make decent contact with the ball and sends his headed effort comfortably wide of the goal.
11'
Tottenham patiently knock the ball around from one flank to the other as they try to find a way through the sea of black and white camped in front of them. Eriksen eventually lifts a lofted pass into the box and towards Dele Alli, who then side-foots a volley across the face of goal. It bounces towards Kane, but Lascelles is there to cut out the danger.
9'
Dembele powers his way through the middle of the pitch on a charging run and then unleashes a low shot from 20 yards out, but it's sent straight into the path of Lascelles and is comfortably blocked by the defender.
7'
J. Lascelles enters the game and replaces P. Dummett.
Rafa Benitez already has an injury to deal with. Dummett went down off the ball before having to limp off to be replaced by Jamal Lascelles.
6'
After dealing with another determined Newcastle attacking move, Tottenham burst forward on a quick counter-attack. Christian Eriksen and Harry Kane link up well before the latter tries to penetrate the left-hand side of the home side's penalty area, but he's well marshalled by Florian Lejeune and has to settle for a corner.
5'
Early chance for Gayle! Paul Dummett launches a lovely lofted pass over the top of the static Tottenham back line and towards Gayle, who is in a great position just inside the penalty area. The striker quickly shoots, but his first-time half-volley sails a few yards over the top of the crossbar.
4'
Tottenham patiently work the ball around as they push forward on their first attack of the afternoon. Mousa Dembele and Kyle Walker-Peters do well over on the right flank before the latter sets up Moussa Sissoko, who is immediately booed by the home fans as he quickly loses the ball.
3'
Newcastle have started the game on the front foot, and they're doing well to put plenty of early pressure on the Tottenham back line. Dwight Gayle picks up the ball on the edge of the box, spins and then chips a pass over to Christian Atsu, but it's slightly overhit and the winger can't latch onto it.
1'
We're off! Newcastle get us underway, attacking from right to left.
Good afternoon and welcome to our live text commentary of today’s Premier League game between Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur at St. James’ Park.
After just one year away, Newcastle are back in the Premier League once again and ready to start their first full top-tier season under the watchful eye of Rafa Benitez. It’s been a tough summer for the Magpies and their manager, the latter of whom has expressed frustration at the club’s transfer activity, or lack thereof, and they’ll be aiming to start the campaign with a positive result against one of last season’s most impressive sides.
Despite Benitez’s frustrations, over £30m has been spent to bring in extra recruits, the most notable, and expensive, of which include Jacob Murphy, Florian Lejeune and Christian Atsu, the latter of whom was on loan last season. All are set to take part in today’s clash, with the latter two starting, whilst Javier Manquillo, signed from Atletico Madrid, Mikel Merino, on loan from Borussia Dortmund, also feature in the match day squad.
This summer has been a slightly underwhelming one for Tottenham, who have done well to keep hold of their star players but are yet to bring in any new faces. With Kyle Walker gone and both Danny Rose and Kieran Trippier nursing injuries, the Spurs back line is looking slightly thin and in need of extra recruitments before the transfer window closes at the end of the month.
Tottenham remain one of the Premier League’s top teams, however, and they’ll be looking to put down an early marker here today. Newcastle came away as 5-1 winners in the final game of the 2015-16 season, denying Spurs a second-place finish and instead handing it to their bitter rivals Arsenal. Memories of that demoralising defeat will no doubt be firmly in mind this afternoon.
Despite the two clubs usually battling at different ends of the table, games between Newcastle and Tottenham have tended to be close affairs in recent seasons. The Magpies got the better of their opponents on both occasions the last time they were in the Premier League, and Spurs have only won twice in their last seven visits to St. James’ Park.
There’s just over 15 minutes left to go until kick-off, so let’s have a look at how the two teams will be lining up this afternoon…
Tottenham Hotspur substitutes: Vorm, Carter-Vickers, Wimmer, Winks, Wanyama, Son, Janssen.
Tottenham Hotspur XI (4-2-3-1): Lloris; Walker-Peters, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Davies; Dier, Dembele; Sissoko, Alli, Eriksen; Kane.
Newcastle United substitutes: Darlow, Mbemba, Lascelles, Merino, Aarons, Murphy, Mitrovic.
Newcastle United XI (4-4-2): Elliot; Manquillo, Clark, Lejuene, Dummett; Ritchie, Hayden, Shelvey, Atsu; Perez, Gayle.
As expected, Benitez has shown no hesitation in throwing a few of his new signings into today’s starting 11. Alongside Javier Manquillo, Florian Lejeune, signed from Eibar, and Christian Atsu, who made last season's loan deal permanent this summer, were both doubts to play this afternoon but will feature from the start after managing to shake off injuries.
Meanwhile, Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino has decided to hand a Premier League debut to Kyle Walker-Peters, who impressed during pre-season and will feature at right-back. Bar that, it’s a largely tried and tested starting line-up for last season’s runners-up.
The two sides are making their way out onto the pitch, with just a few minutes to go until kick-off.
HALF-TIME: NEWCASTLE UNITED 0-0 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
It's been a decent performance from Newcastle so far, as the home side are doing well to keep Tottenham relatively quiet. The visitors haven't looked at their usual best, with Eriksen, Alli and Kane all struggling to cause many problems for a back line that's been hit by two unfortunate injuries. At the other end, the hosts have counter-attacked well, with Atsu looking particularly impressive over on the left wing.
The two teams are making their way back out onto the pitch ahead of the second half. Neither side have made any substitutions during the break.
FULL-TIME: NEWCASTLE UNITED 0-2 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Tottenham were given a tough first half by a determined Newcastle side, but Shelvey's sending off changed all of that and from then onwards it was relatively plain sailing for the visitors. Kane, Alli and, in particular, Eriksen all got more involved in the action, and they were able to leave with a well-deserved opening day win thanks to two nicely worked goals.
For Newcastle, the defeat is not only disappointing but worrying too. An already thin squad are now likely to be without Shelvey, Lejeune and Dummett for their next game against Huddersfield Town, and it leaves Benitez with plenty of head scratching to do.
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