‘Hurting’ Postecoglou aims to save Spurs’ season against Newcastle| All Football

Ange Postecoglou is hopeful of turning Tottenham’s fortunes around this season despite failing to win their last three Premier League games before the new year.

Postecoglou watched on as his side conceded a late equalizer to draw 2-2 with Wolves in their final game of 2024, leaving them 11th in the standings and 11 points adrift of the top four.

Next up for Spurs is a home clash against in-form Newcastle United, and Postecoglou revealed his side’s recent run has “hurt”, but suggested their campaign is not over yet.

“I think so, because it’s still pretty tight. I just feel we’ll get a relatively healthy squad at some point and when we do, we’ll be able to perform at a high level consistently, and we’ve shown this year that we can beat anyone,” Postecoglou said.

“There’s a chance you could go on a run, but at the moment that’s secondary to the first stretch. We have to try to get some support for the players – mentally and physically – and in terms of numbers, in order to give them the opportunity to play at their best.”

“It hurts me because I am ultimately responsible. I am the person in charge. So, of course, it hurts and when I see how hard they try, it hurts even more because you want them to get an award.

“It hurts tremendously. At the same time, it’s my responsibility where we are at the moment, and it’s my responsibility to try to get us out of it.”

Meanwhile, Newcastle had a good end to 2024, winning four consecutive Premier League games for the first time since March and April 2023.

Since the start of November, only Liverpool (23) and Nottingham Forest (21) have won more points in the Premier League than Newcastle (20), with the Magpies now fifth in the standings.

They also scored 21 goals in December in all competitions, only the sixth time they have scored more than 20 goals in a calendar month, with two of them coming under Eddie Howe (also 22 in April 2023).

But despite their torrid end to the year, midfielder Joelinton, who scored in Newcastle’s 2-0 win over Manchester United last time out, suggested there was more to come.

“There’s still a long way to go, but the team is getting better,” Joelinton said. “A good performance away from home today, three points, two goals, a clean sheet.

“Great mentality from the boys from start to finish, defended our goal and scored two to win the game. Belief is high. When you start winning and scoring goals, confidence comes back.

“Time will tell how good we are, but we are enjoying football at the moment. We have to be humble and keep our feet on the ground because there is a long way to go.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Tottenham – Brennan Johnson

Johnson is Tottenham’s top scorer in all competitions this season with 11 goals but has yet to find the back of the net against Newcastle in his previous five Premier League games against Forest and Spurs.

The Welshman, however, will be confident of ending that run. He has either scored (two) or assisted (two) goals in each of his last four home games in the top flight.

Newcastle – Alexander Isak

Isak scored 25 Premier League goals for Newcastle in 2024, with only Alan Shearer in 2002 scoring more in one year for the club (27).

Overall, only Shearer (148), Callum Wilson (47) and Peter Beardsley (46) better his 43 Premier League goals for the Magpies.

ALL PREDICTIONS: NEWCASTLE WIN

Newcastle have won four of their last five Premier League games against Tottenham (L1), as many as they had in their previous 15 (D2 L9).

Having won the top-flight double over Tottenham in just one of 12 campaigns between 2008-09 and 2021-22 (2015-16), Newcastle could now do so in two of the last three (also 2022-23).

The Magpies, however, have won their first league game in just one of the last 12 calendar years (D3 L8), winning 1-0 against Stoke City on New Year’s Day 2018.

Meanwhile, Tottenham have won two of their last three Premier League home games against Newcastle (L1), as many as they had in their previous seven (D1 L4).

But Postecoglou’s side are winless in their last five Premier League home games, their longest run since a run of eight between March and October 2008 under Juande Ramos, while they last had a longer run in one season between October 1993 and April 1994 ( 14). ).

And you can expect an entertaining encounter on Saturday. Tottenham vs Newcastle is the most played Premier League game to finish 0-0 (59 meetings). 189 goals have been scored in matches between the teams, the third highest scoring match in top flight history.

OPTA WIN Probability

Tottenham – 33.8%

Draw – 24.3%

Newcastle – 41.9%