Gary Lineker joked Tottenham were finally “back on track” after their miserable recent form reached a humiliating new low, losing 6-1 against Newcastle.
Spurs came into Sunday’s meeting with their top-four rivals in need of a result after capitulating against Bournemouth last time out. They started the day three points behind the Magpies, who occupied the final Champions League berth.
But any hopes of closing that gap were blown away by a horror start which saw them concede five times in 20 desperate opening minutes. Jacob Murphy opened the scoring after less than two minutes when he tapped home following a Joelinton strike.
The Brazilian then doubled Newcastle’s lead four minutes later, before Murphy scored his second, and Newcastle’s third just a few seconds later.
Former Spurs striker Lineker was quick to take to Twitter to make light of their recent situation, posting: “Good to see that @SpursOfficial are back on track.”
And three became four before the 20 minute mark when Alexander Isak ghosted behind an absent Tottenham defence to stroke past Hugo Lloris. And the Swede doubled his tally moments later to make it five and put the Premier League ’s record defeat under threat.
Tottenham managed to claw one goal back after the break through Harry Kane, but Newcastle's five-goal lead was re-established after Callum Wilson tapped home 68 seconds after being introduced.
The result and the nature of the Spurs performance will heap more pressure on Daniel Levy and the decision to sack Antonio Conte and place his ex-assistant Cristian Stellini in charge on an interim basis.
Conte was dismissed at the end of last month following a turbulent period which saw the Italian tear strips off his underperforming stars. But rather than hire an external replacement, Spurs opted to promote Stellini with the hope of reaching the end of the season unscathed.
That plan has now spectacularly backfired, with their hopes of a top-four finish in tatters and their campaign in serious danger of ending in total ignominy.
Stellini had attempted to change his side’s fortune by switching to a back four for the first time this season, but had to revert back to type after the fifth went in, with Davinson Sanchez replacing the lost Pape Matar Sarr.
Speaking before the game, Stellini admitted that defeat at St James’ Park would effectively end their hopes of returning to the Champions League. “The maths gives us the stock to believe in that. Until that moment [that we can no longer make top four] we continue to believe and push and play to reach this target,” he said.
As for Newcastle, the result only heightens their chances of returning to Europe’s top competition for the first time in 20 years. And Toon legend Alan Shearer was quick to chime in himself, posting: “Boooommmmmm what a start this is. Big Joeeeeee”, before adding “THIS IS BLOODY GOOD”. Meanwhile his Match of the Day colleague Lineker simply said: "Gonna stick my neck out: Can’t see Spurs winning this game."
Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville was more analytical in his verdict on the game, picking out Cristian Romero, Pedro Porro, Eric Dier and Hugo Lloris for their parts in the five-goal demolition job which ended the contest before it had really started.
