Newcastle United were the architects of their own downfall after Spurs came from behind to hammer the visitors 5-1 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Fabian Schar put Newcastle ahead in the 39th minute, but Ben Davies equalised just a few minutes later before Matt Doherty headed Spurs in front in the 48th minute. Further second-half goals from Son Heung-Min, Emerson Royal and substitute Steven Bergwijn made it a very comfortable afternoon for Spurs as Newcastle fell apart.
Here are five things we learned from the game.
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Newcastle's worrying response to going behind
It seemed like a lifetime ago since those losses at Everton and Chelsea but, for the first time since December, Newcastle were going to have to bounce back from back-to-back defeats. While Newcastle were unfortunate to lose at Chelsea last month, the Magpies' subsequent 1-0 defeat at Everton felt like a missed opportunity - even after a gruelling run of away fixtures.
Matt Targett went as far as to say that it was the 'first time' since he joined the club that he 'felt disappointed'. Well, Targett and his team-mates will have felt a hell of a lot worse on Sunday following a 5-1 defeat.
Having found themselves in front, against the run of play, Newcastle were not ahead for long or, indeed, level for long either for that matter as sloppy defending proved costly for all five of Spurs' goals. Newcastle failed to deal with a Spurs corner in the 43rd minute and the ball eventually came back out to Son on the left wing, whose cross was not blocked. Ben Davies then got there ahead of Matt Targett to head Spurs level.
If that was a poor time to concede, right before half-time, Newcastle then shot themselves in the foot shortly after the break where similar problems reared their head once again. Goalscorer Fabian Schar's ill-advised crossfield ball went straight to Dejan Kulusevski and the Sweden international quickly picked out Harry Kane whose cross was glanced in by Matt Doherty as Newcastle again failed to block the cross and prevent a header.
Newcastle never recovered after going behind and Son made it 3-1 before Emerson Royal and Steven Bergwijn added the gloss as the visitors capitulated - even after matching Spurs up and switching to a back five. Newcastle's work off the ball has been a strength in defeat in recent weeks - Newcastle had not conceded more than a goal in any of their previous 11 Premier League games - but this was a timely reminder that the Magpies have a lot of work to do.
Substitution at 4-1 down says it all
There was once a time where, privately, some Newcastle managers previously felt that getting anything from games against sides in the top six was a bonus, but Eddie Howe has never seen these matches as 'free hits'. So, rather than paying Spurs too much respect and focusing too much on what Antonio Conte's in-form side could do to his team, Howe instead prioritised how Newcastle could trouble the Londoners.
It is easy to see why. Newcastle may be nine points clear of the relegation zone, but the Magpies were due to face six teams currently in the top half in their final nine games so it is crucial they pick up points along the way. You only have to look at Brentford's 4-1 victory at Chelsea on Saturday to realise that after the Bees leapfrogged Newcastle in the table with a shock win in the capital.
Newcastle may have started with a back four, rather than matching Spurs up with a five, but the visitors' initial approach actually brought back memories of the corresponding fixture last season when the black-and-whites somehow emerged with a point following Callum Wilson's controversial 97th-minute equaliser at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Although Newcastle chalked up more possession, corners and shots than they did 553 days previously, the Magpies dropped deep in the early stages and invited pressure - which is always dangerous against a side with the attacking talents that Spurs possess.
If you set out to be defensively solid, you have to hang onto a lead, which Newcastle failed to do, and as the game became stretched, Spurs easily picked Howe's side off in the second half.
Howe usually makes attacking changes - Bruno Guimaraes and Jacob Murphy both came on after Newcastle went 3-1 down - but, tellingly, the Magpies' head coach replaced tired striker Chris Wood with defender Jamaal Lascelles after his side conceded a fourth. It felt like a damage limitation exercise, but Steven Bergwijn was still able to add a fifth late on.
Owner sums up day to forget as players do not heed Howe's warning
Mehrdad Ghodoussi perhaps summed it up best when the watching Newcastle part-owner simply tweeted 'bad day' after the game. While Newcastle have previously suffered heavy defeats against some of the league's best sides this season, no one will have seen that second-half capitulation coming.
The players, after all, enjoyed a productive warm-weather training camp in Dubai, where they had the chance to bond as well as work hard on the training pitches. The squad were pushed to extreme levels in the altitude chambers at the Nad Al Sheba complex in an effort to mirror the periods in games where, when fatigued, they will have to stay switched on and dig deep.
Yet that character was not on display on Sunday and, although Eddie Howe reminded his players they were still in a 'relegation battle' ahead of this game, the Magpies did not play like they were.
Fabian Schar goal proves scant consolation
Before Eddie Howe even took charge, last November, the Newcastle head coach identified set-plays as one of those areas the Magpies simply had to improve. Corners and free-kicks are not the most glamorous parts of the game, of course, but Howe has wanted to make the most of these situations. It is easy to see why.
Newcastle were distinct second best on Sunday, but were given the chance to take the lead in the 39th minute when Joe Willock was fouled just outside the area. Fabian Schar stepped up and fired the visitors ahead with a well-struck free-kick after Hugo Lloris was unable to keep out the centre-back's effort from the edge of the area.
Schar then sprinted the full length of the field to the away end to celebrate in front of Newcastle supporters - just as Joelinton did at Brentford last month. However, this time, Newcastle did not go on to win the game.
Seven of Newcastle's last 11 goals have come from set-piece situations, whether it is a player getting on the end of a delivery or a technician stepping up and scoring directly from a free-kick. Perhaps, that return should not come as a surprise. In Howe's final campaign at Bournemouth, which ended in relegation, half of the Cherries' goals came from set-pieces. That represented the highest percentage in the Premier League that season.
Since Howe has come in, Newcastle have broken up set plays and assistants Jason Tindall and Graeme Jones and first-team coach Stephen Purches have specific areas to work on as they devise routines and give the players a huge amount of detail. This team effort was one of the many reasons why Howe was so keen to have all of his coaching staff beside him when he received his manager of the month award last month.
Newcastle are going to have to bank on St James' fortress
It is unlikely that Newcastle's final day trip to Burnley will be a relegation decider, but the Magpies can't afford to take any chances and must make the most of upcoming home fixtures. It won't be easy against Wolves, Leicester or Crystal Palace, but Howe will be desperate to get back to winning ways when Newcastle return to St James' for three home games in the space of 12 days.
Newcastle have now lost three on the bounce away from home, but the Magpies have been particularly strong at St James' Park. Newcastle have won their last three matches on Tyneside and the black-and-whites have only suffered one league defeat at home under Howe - and that was against champions Man City three months ago.
Howe has picked up 16 points at St James', which works out at around 62% of his overall tally to date, after tapping into the remarkable support he has enjoyed inside the stadium. That support will certainly be needed under the lights on Friday night when in-form Wolves come to town.
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