Newcastle 4-0 Tottenham: Isak double sees Magpies dent Spurs top four hopes

Alexander Isak netted two goals as Newcastle secured a 4-0 victory over Tottenham at St. James' Park on Saturday, resulting in Spurs slipping to fifth place in the Premier League due to goal difference.

With Aston Villa facing Arsenal this weekend, Tottenham had a golden opportunity to enhance their chances of qualifying for Europe's top club competition next season.

However, Newcastle, who were still in contention for a spot in the Europa Conference League, posed a threat. The memory of their previous victory over Tottenham at St. James' Park, where they triumphed 6-1, surely lingered in the minds of the Spurs players.

The early stages of the match were intense and devoid of clear-cut chances, with neither goalkeeper being tested. However, Newcastle suddenly sprang to life after the half-hour mark and scored two goals in just 95 seconds.

Isak capitalized on a defensive error to put the ball past Martin Dubravka, and Anthony Gordon found the bottom corner after Pedro Porro's poor back pass.

Destiny Udogie made a crucial tackle to deny Isak a second goal before halftime, but the Swedish striker eventually doubled his tally shortly after the restart. He latched onto a well-placed pass from Bruno Guimaraes and calmly beat Dubravka in a one-on-one situation.

In an attempt to revitalize his struggling team, Ange Postecoglou substituted captain Son-Heung Min in the second half. However, this change had little impact as Newcastle continued to dominate the game.

Emil Krafth came close to scoring, but his shot hit the post. Fabian Schar then sealed the victory for Newcastle by heading in a corner from Gordon.

Overall, it was a disappointing performance from Tottenham, who missed a chance to boost their European aspirations, while Newcastle showcased their determination to secure a place in European competition.

The Magpies have extended their unbeaten run to six home league matches and have climbed to sixth place in the standings, despite playing one more game than Manchester United, whom they are ahead of by one point.

On the other hand, Tottenham failed to capitalize on the chance to challenge Villa. Although the UEFA coefficient table could secure a fifth Champions League spot for the Premier League, recent results indicate that it is not a certainty. Therefore, Postecoglou and his team need to swiftly recover if they aim to get back to the top tier.