Newcastle v Tottenham player ratings: Barnes 8, Isak 7; Maddison 6, Brennan 8

Magpies earn fortunate 2-1 win to maintain unbeaten start to Premier League season

Nick Pope 6/10

NEWCASTLE RATINGS: Two decent, if regulation, saves from Sarr in first half during which his distribution annoyed home fans. Should have done better when he pushed Maddison shot straight to Brennan ahead of Burn own goal. Getty ImagesShow less

Tino Livramento 6/10

Right-back, who is keeping Kieran Trippier out of the team, is a fan favourite but has not had the most convincing starts to season, looking frail defensively and producing less of the galloping runs forward of last campaign. Getty ImagesShow less

Emil Krafth 7/10

Continues at centre-half in place of suspended Fabian Scar and has let no one down over the three games the Swiss defender has missed. Threw himself into tackles and blocks as Newcastle came under fierce second-half pressure. ReutersShow less

Dan Burn 7/10

Excellent again, bar two lapses. Scored own-goal when he tried to clear ball over bar but booted ball into own net. Gifted one dreadful pass straight to Odobert and was relieved chance came to nothing. Getty ImagesShow less

Lloyd Kelly 6/10

Picked up needless booking for foul on Son but made amends not long after with superb cross for Barnes’ goal. Struggled to deal with wing play of Spurs substitute Brennan and no shock when replaced with yellow card hanging over him. EPAShow less

Sean Longstaff 6/10

Booked for sliding tackle from behind on Udogie. Rescued by crossbar when he deflected Porro cross towards own goal. Usual non-stop running but Newcastle’s midfield in general not at best. Reuters

Bruno Guimaraes 7/10

Booked for reckless foul on Maddison with Spurs man dealing out revenge not long after. Nearly scored Newcastle’s second own goal but managed to turn cross out for corner. Driving force for teammates and fans but no sign of trademark killer final ball. Getty ImagesShow less

Joelinton 7/10

Beaten by quick feet of Dragusin and book for foul on that followed on Romanian. Beautiful turn and through ball to Murphy who went on to set up Isak for second goal. Reuters

Harvey Barnes 8/10

Flashed curling right-footed effort just wide of post in opening 10 minutes. Wonderful first-time finish to put side 1-0 up, fully justifying his recall to team with moment of real quality. Getty ImagesShow less

Anthony Gordon 6/10

Like Guimaraes, not producing the form he has shown previously in terms of attacking threat, after being touted around other clubs by Magpies in summer, but his relentless work-rate has not changed. Getty ImagesShow less

Newcastle United FC v Tottenham Hotspur FC - Premier League

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 01: Alexander Isak of Newcastle United scores his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC at St James' Park on September 01, 2024 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Matt McNulty / Getty Images)Show less

Jacob Murphy 7/10

SUBSTITUTES: (On for Barnes 61’) Had chance to put Newcastle back in front but shot to near post was saved by Vicario. Unselfish ball across six-yard box to give Isak open goal for winner. EPA

Sandro Tonali 6/10

(On for Longstaff 68’) Given rapturous reception in first Premier League appearance since 10-month suspension and the Italian will be key player for Newcastle this season. Getty Images

Lewis Hall 5/10

(On for Kelly 68’) Like man he replaced, left-back found Brennan a handful. PA

Miguel Almiron N/A

(On for Gordon 90+4’) Getty Images)

Guglielmo Vicario 7/10

TOTTENHAM RATINGS: No chance with superb Barnes finish in first half or Isak tap in after break. A few unconvincing punches on crosses from Italian but was spectator for much of second bar one save at near post from Murphy. PAShow less

Pedro Porro 7/10

Picked out Romero with one whipped-in free kick who headed home but centre-half was offside. Saw another cross hit crossbar after wicked deflection. EPA

Radu Dragusin 8/10

In for the injured Micky Van de Ven and showed real pace when he tracked back and made vital tackles on Barnes in first half and Isak in second when both would have been in on goal. PA

Cristian Romero 8/10

Headed home in 12th minute but had strayed way offside. Fine performance alongside unfamiliar centre-back partner Dragusin. Getty Images

Destiny Udogie 7/10

Some marauding runs forward from Italian defender who found himself in some unusual attacking positions for a left-back. AFP

Yves Bissouma 7/10

Cracking goal last week but not hint of repeat here as his focus returned to defensive duties in front of the back four which he did well. Obvious booking for hauling back Barnes. PA

Pape Sarr 7/10

Two strikes in matter of minutes in first half that forced Pope into decent saves. Booked for late tackle on Kelly. Taken off at break. AFP

James Maddison 6/10

Incurred wrath of home fans by rolling around on ground following Burn challenge. Had shot saved by Pope that ended with Burn own goal and saw curling effort saved by Magpies keeper. Booked for revenge foul on Guimaraes. Getty ImagesShow less

Wilson Odobert 7/10

Teenage attacker drilled shot wide of near post when should have at least troubled Pope then missed a chance at back post after break. Caused Newcastle problems throughout, though. Getty Images

Dejan Kulusevski 7/10

Quiet first half but at heart of Spurs second-half dominance. Away team peppered the Newcastle goal with match shot count finishing 20-9 in Spurs’ favour. PA

Son Heung-min 6/10

Dispossessed by Isak early while on defensive duties leading to Swedish attacker, then hitting crossbar. Spurs could have done with one of the second-half chances falling at their captain’s feet. AFP

Brennan Johnson 8/10

SUBSTITUTES: (On for Sarr 46’) Revelation after coming on, causing Newcastle’s defence constant problems with flying runs down right and dangerous crosses into box. Reacted quickly to turn Pope save across goal that Burn booted into own net. Missed chance of his own. ReutersShow less

Timo Werner 5/10

(On for Odobert 74’) No impact from German attacker. Getty Images

Rodrigo Bentancur N/A

(On for Maddison 82’) Booked within two minutes of coming on for foul on Gordon. PA

Lucas Bergvall N/A

(On for Bissmouma 82’) Reuters

Eddie Howe celebrated a “massive” win as Newcastle United put their transfer window woes behind them to condemn Tottenham Hotspur to a first Premier League defeat of the season at St James’ Park.

Chairman Yasir Al Rumayyan was among the crowd as the Magpies scrapped their way to a 2-1 victory with a squad weakened by injuries and departures sanctioned in order to comply with spending restrictions.

Newcastle are unbeaten in their first four games of the campaign, while Tottenham, who dominated for long periods, were beaten for the first time this term. Harvey Barnes’ smart finish gave the Magpies a 38th-minute advantage and Tottenham finally got their reward after the break when Dan Burn turned substitute Brennan Johnson’s cross-shot into his own net.

From that point on, there looked likely to be only one winner as Nick Pope’s goal came under repeated fire, but the visitors were hit with a 77th-minute sucker punch when substitute Jacob Murphy raced on to Joelinton’s through-ball and unselfishly set-up Alexander Isak up for the winner.

“It's massive, isn't it?” Howe said. “You need to win at any stage but I think when there's difficult moments – and this transfer window has been tough for us – then it's even more important.

“It just enables you to see things clearly and to move forward with positive momentum. Hopefully we can do that. Today was a tough game, but, as I said, we found a way to grind out a win and hopefully those are good signs for the rest of the season.”

Despite taking seven points out of a possible nine, Newcastle have yet to find anything like their top gear or the form that took them to a fourth-place finish the season before last.

“I don't think we're playing as we would like, I think that's obvious. I don't think we're playing with enough control and composure. But what we are showing is the defensive and aggressive qualities that you need,” Howe said.

“I have to say we're defending very well but on the ball, I think we've got a lot of work to do. Our attacking play has not kicked into rhythm yet.”

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou admitted his team had been punished for not killing the game off in a match where they registered 20 shots to Newcastle's nine.

“We controlled it for the most part, nullified most of the threats that Newcastle have,” he said. “I thought for the most part, we handled that really well and then gained the ascendancy in the game.

“We just needed to kill it off and it was a disappointing second half, where we switched off a little bit. But the game should have been all over by then so it's another sore one, unfortunately.”

Postecoglu was without club record signing Dominic Solanke and Brazilian forward Richarlison through injury and will hope they can bring a sharper edge in attack when they return.

“What I know is if we continue to play like that, we will get our rewards,” added the Australian. “The way we controlled the game was really pleasing. [It is] frustrating more than anything else. It's three good performances but not the results that reflect that.”