Spurs 2 - 3 Newcastle: FULL Report and Reactions

By Nick Raynor
January 15 2007

Nicky Butt is the hero of the moment after scoring the winning goal after Newcastle came back from 2-1 down to beat Spurs 3-2 at White Hart Lane yestarday.

Tottenham started the better of the two teams and Newcastle were put under a lot of pressure early on.

Defoe lost his marker and ran through but was denied by Given. The England international put a shot over soon after, followed by Berbatov ruining a good chance by hitting it straight at Given.

Given was called into action again after Malbranque had an effort at goal, but he was unable to prevent the opener. Steed Malbranque advanced into the left hand edge of the box and passed to Defoe, who looked to be in an offside position, who tapped in from close range. Despite protests, the goal still stood.

Immediately, Newcastle levelled the game up with their first real attack after an action packed 16 minutes.

The goal came in the unlikely form of youngster, Paul Huntington after a James Milner freekick found him in the box. His initial header was blocked, but the defender swung at it with his foot and, although it was going in, it found Paul Robinson's feet and took a deflection into the goal to even the scores.

After an action packed first quarter, the game quietened down until the half-time whistle blew, where all the action came back.

Newcastle United goalkeeper Shay Given was livid with Berbatov's attempts to block a goal kick by raising his leg, and Nicky Butt, who lost 9 pounds due to flu but still played, had a scuffle in the centre-circle. It involved Tottenham's Pascal Chimbonda who was arguing with the former Manchester United midfielder, when the Spurs player reached out and slapped Nicky Butt. Butt responded with a shove and the pair were both booked, with Chimbonda lucky not to be sent off.

Television pictures showed Nicky Butt having to be restrained in the tunnel as another scruffle broke out but both teams were ushered to their respective dressing rooms.

The Newcastle team came back out fired up but it was Spurs who took the lead 10 minutes into the second half, and begrudgingly, Chimbonda had a huge part to play after meeting Malbranque's pass down the right with a fantastic run. Tainio's shot was blocked by Solano but Berbatov volleyed into the ground and made it 2-1.

Newcastle's heads went down and Spurs began to dominate again but could not get the goal to finish the game and secure 3 points.

They were punished when Newcastle scored 2 goals, in just 94 seconds. And who else to get the winner but Nicky Butt.

The second goal for Newcastle however was a breathtaking strike by Obafemi Martins. After playing a little one-two, the Nigerian ran with the little ball, and after a step over, let fly with a screamer of a thunderbolt into the top corner.

Moments later, Martins played a superb through ball for Nicky Butt to run onto who shot across Paul Robinson and found the net for a 3-2 lead.

The game was not over yet however, with Defoe hitting the post late on, but Newcastle held on.

Tottenham: Robinson, Chimbonda, Lee, Dawson, Davenport (Ghaly 88), Lennon, Huddlestone, Tainio (Zokora 79), Malbranque (Keane 75), Defoe, Berbatov.

Goals: Defoe 14, Berbatov 54.

Newcastle: Given, Ramage, Taylor, Huntington, Pattison, Solano, Butt, Milner, Dyer, Martins, Sibierski.

Goals: Huntington 16, Martins 72, Butt 73.

Att: 35,942.

Newcastle boss Glenn Roeder told press afterwards that his team were inspired by the bust up at half time, and paid credit to Nicky Butt for his sheer determination in coming back from flu.

Roeder said:

"Our players don't want to make anything of it but certainly the incident galvanised the players to play like they did in the second half.

"They had already made their mind up that what had happened would pull them together tighter and that we would come out with the result.

"I had to make a few points tactically at half-time but in terms of sending them out motivated, that was done for us by what happened."

"What more can you say about Nicky Butt?

"I like to use the word warrior. Warrior means you never give in and he never gives in.

"He has been in bed for five days with flu and he has lost nine pounds.

"Most players would have cried off but not only did Nicky play, he started and finished the game and if anyone deserved to score, it was him.

"He's a great lad around the training ground and everyone loves working with him."

He added:

"The young players were absolutely tremendous and I'm very proud of my team. The dressing room is a great place to be at the moment.

"Spurs don't lose too often here and the manner in which we achieved it means we leave here with great spirits.

"I'm impressed by the way the lads have got on with things and pulled off a result like this, despite our problems."

Tottenham manager Martin Jol admitted that his team was 'gutted' not to have gotten more from the game, but paid tribute to Newcastle.

Jol said:

"All credit to Newcastle, to come here and get three goals is a good effort and we must praise them for it.

"If you can't score you have to keep your shape but we didn't do that. If you concede three goals at home you must say that is bad defending.

"We should have got more out of this game, it is incredible how we don't have more out of it, we're all gutted."