Tottenham vs. Newcastle: Winners and Losers from Premier League

Newcastle United's tendency to win on national television continued on Sunday, as they came from behind to beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 at White Hart Lane.

Eric Dier nodded the hosts ahead in the closing stages of the first half, but the Magpies upped the ante in the second period, with goals from Aleksandar Mitrovic and Ayoze Perez securing victory—the latter of which came with just a minute to go.

Here, B/R picks its winners and losers from the game.

Winner: Moussa Sissoko, Newcastle United

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Moussa Sissoko played like a man possessed on Sunday evening, roaring down the right flank with regularity and providing service for his strikers. The extent to which he bested Danny Rose was downright embarrassing at times.

His end product isn’t always brilliant—particularly when it comes to crossing—but he did help turn the tide of the game and sent in one magnificent cross that Aleksandar Mitrovic should have converted.

The Daily Mirror’s Simon Bird described his second-half performance as “massive.”

Losers: Left Side of Tottenham Hotspur’s Line

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Tottenham’s usual defensive rigidity and stability was conspicuously absent on Sunday. As Newcastle found their groove in the second half, clear-cut chances and crossing opportunities were created and the pressure eventually became too much.

Kyle Walker did a reasonable job alongside Toby Alderweireld, but the left side of the line looked very bad. Jan Vertonghen, who isn’t in great form, can be questioned on both goals, and Danny Rose was continually smoked by Moussa Sissoko.

Winner: Ayoze Perez, Newcastle United

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Ayoze Perez was the difference-maker on the pitch on Sunday, coming off the bench and turning zero points into three.

His movement and speed dropping off the line caused all sorts of problems among Tottenham Hotspur’s defenders, he scored the winner from an acute angle at the death and he came close after turning Toby Alderweireld in the box.

Steve McClaren has been trying hard to get Siem de Jong going in the XI, but it’s blocking Perez’s route into the team. It might just be time to bring the Spaniard back in, as he is clearly one of their best and most impactful players.

Loser: Mauricio Pochettino, Tottenham Hotspur

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Amid all the praise for Mauricio Pochettino’s young Tottenham Hotspur charges, a simple fact appears to have been brushed under the rug: They’ve only won two of their last six Premier League games, per WhoScored.com.

That’s not necessarily that much of a concern at this stage—Spurs are hardly in free fall—but things aren’t as rosy as they’re painted to be. Sunday’s performance was pretty grim, in truth.

"Tottenham were absent today, [they] didn't create,” Graeme Souness said on Sky Sports’ live broadcast at full-time (h/t Goal.com’s Jay Jaffa), and he was right. Eric Dier scored a header from a corner to deliver the breakthrough, but very little was created from open play.

Did they use up all their attacking mojo against Monaco on Thursday?

Winner: Steve McClaren, Newcastle United

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Two wins in two is a fantastic achievement for this Newcastle United side at any stage of the season, but to earn them against Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur? That’s downright dreamy.

Steve McClaren has been shown patience and faith by the Magpies board, and he is now repaying them with some excellent performances. They’re not pretty, but they do grind out vital wins and offer hope of climbing the table.

His substitutions were particularly praiseworthy on Sunday, with Ayoze Perez and Aleksandar Mitrovic—both sent on in the second half to salvage something—scoring the two goals that secured the win.

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