You could cut the tension with a knife at the St. James' Park last night, as Newcastle United faced off against Tottenham Hotspur in what seemed, for most of the match, a tightly contested game. However, what transpired in the closing moments revived painful memories of matches lost in similarly heartbreaking circumstances earlier this season.
On a rather uneventful night for the Spurs regarding shots at goal, it was the Magpies who unfortunately set the stage for a Spurs' equaliser. Newcastle’s stand-in keeper, Aaron Ramsdale, stepped in for the injured Nick Pope but found himself in a twist during a critical moment. Ramsdale chose to punch a corner from Spurs' Mathys Tel late in the game, failing to clear the area. This misjudgment set the stage for Cristian Romero, previously having sent a warning shot, to execute a dramatic overhead kick. Despite opportunities to clear, the ball frustratingly bobbled through a crowd of black and white shirts and past a slow-reacting Ramsdale, leaving the home crowd in total silence.
This moment was strikingly reminiscent of Rio Ngumoha's last-minute goal for Liverpool and Gabriel’s late strike for Arsenal – both costly moments for Newcastle earlier in the campaign. Reflecting on these, Manager Eddie Howe emphasized the need to maintain focus and mental strength in these pressing moments. "There’s a psychological element, a fear of conceding, that creeps in," Howe remarked, highlighting the need for defensive resilience and proactive gameplay.
Newcastle United's habit of conceding late in the game has become a worrying trend, one that Howe is keen on addressing. His strategy revolves around coaching the side to handle high-pressure situations better and to keep pushing with their offensive play even when leading. This balanced approach of aggression and tactical defense might just be the key to flipping the script in future encounters.
Despite these setbacks, as a die-hard Newcastle supporter and knowing our history of resilience, I firmly believe that muscle memory from seasons of yore will kick in soon. Our march towards the Premiership glory is far from over, and let’s not forget our dreams of an FA Cup final appearance this season!
And to wrap with a chuckle – How many Sunderland fans does it take to change a lightbulb? Well, none, because they’re still in the dark about what it feels like to beat us this season!
Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike Alexander Isak
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