Five things we learned from Tottenham 2-1 loss to Newcastle United

Tottenham Hotspur begin the 2025 with yet another defeat in the Premier League, this time at the hands of Newcastle United. Let’s take a look at five things we learned from the game.

Brandon Austin makes Premier League debut

Tottenham Hotspur’s goalkeeping crisis opened the door for Brandon Austin to make his Premier League debut at the age of 26, a moment of pride for the player despite the circumstances surrounding it.

With Guglielmo Vicario sidelined and Fraser Forster out due to illness, Austin found himself thrust into the spotlight for a competitive match that was as much a test of his composure as his ability.

The debutant’s performance was a mixed bag – his handling of set-pieces was commendable, and he kept things simple when playing out from the back.

However, the first goal conceded might leave room for scrutiny, with questions over whether he could have done better to prevent it.

Yet another centre-back pairing

Crisis at the back is becoming an all-too-familiar story for Tottenham Hotspur, and this match was no different.

Radu Dragusin’s substitution during the game, due to reasons still unclear, forced manager Ange Postecoglou to reshuffle his defence yet again.

The result was a makeshift pairing of Djed Spence and Archie Gray in central defence, a duo that was far from ideal but managed to put in a commendable effort against Newcastle’s potent attack.

Sergio Reguilón, a player once seemingly out of favour at the club, was called upon to bolster the defensive line, delivering a solid performance that underscored the collective effort in the second half.

Nonetheless, this constant reshuffling at the back continues to expose Tottenham’s frailties and highlights a pressing need for defensive stability.

Ange Postecoglou got his substitutions right

While there were murmurs of discontent in the stadium when Lucas Bergvall’s number came up on the substitution board, the decision proved to be a tactically astute one by Ange Postecoglou.

Bergvall had impressed in the first half, his strong run playing a key role in Tottenham’s goal, but the introduction of Yves Bissouma brought much-needed control to the midfield and additional protection for the patched-up defence.

Bissouma’s presence allowed the new centre-back partnership to settle into the game, ensuring the scoreline remained respectable in a match that could have unravelled far more disastrously.

Spurs need a left-back and a centre-back

One of the most glaring lessons from this match is the urgent need for reinforcements in defence. With Dragusin potentially joining the growing list of absentees, Tottenham find themselves perilously close to being without a recognised centre-back.

The lack of depth in the defensive department is alarming, and the current stage of the season makes it an even more pressing concern.

If the club’s hierarchy fails to address this issue promptly, the consequences could be dire, with the possibility of sliding into a relegation battle becoming an increasingly realistic fear.

The importance of adding both a left-back and a centre-back cannot be overstated, as the team’s vulnerabilities continue to be exposed.

Spurs suffer tenth league defeat of the season

The loss to Newcastle United marked Tottenham’s tenth defeat of the Premier League season, a statistic that starkly illustrates the struggles of a team far from the European football ambitions it once held.

Perhaps even more concerning is the woeful home form, with six consecutive matches at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium ending without a win.

For a club of Tottenham’s stature, this form is simply unacceptable, and a significant turnaround is needed to salvage any hope of a respectable finish this season.

With a daunting Carabao Cup clash against Liverpool looming, supporters may have to brace themselves for a potentially prolonged wait for festive cheer on the pitch.

The post Five things we learned from Tottenham 2-1 loss to Newcastle United appeared first on Spurs Web.