Ange Postecoglou believes Tottenham should have beaten Newcastle United and would have done so if “all things were equal and balanced”.
Spurs lost 2-1 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, with Newcastle coming from behind after Dominic Solanke's fourth-minute opener. Anthony Gordon scored 140 seconds later before Alexander Isak scored the winner before half-time.
Spurs were visibly frustrated by Newcastle's equalizer, with a lengthy VAR check for a handball against Joelinton confirming the goal with the Brazilian's arm lying next to him.
Postecoglou's side, who have now gone six league games without a home win for the first time since October 2008, also played the match without a recognized centre-back after Radu Dragusin was removed at half-time due to injury.
“If we look at the balance of the game, whatever balance you want and all things being equal, we would have won,” Posteocglou told BBC Sport.
“Excellent. I couldn't be more proud of the players. That's all I can ask for. It's a game we would have won if everything had been equal.”
“If all things were equal and balanced, we would have won. Things were not equal and balanced.”
When asked if it was Newcastle's first goal that was not equal, he added: “You can talk about what you want. You want my opinion – if all things had been equal and balanced we would have won. “
“We had plenty of chances. Our football was excellent considering everything we are going through.
“If it was a level playing field, we would have won.”
Spurs hit the post through Brennan Johnson in the second half before substitute James Maddison and Solanke also came close.
They also had 13 shots to Newcastle's 14, with both teams scoring four shots on target, although the hosts' expected goals of 0.84 (xG) were slightly lower than their opponents' 1.08.
Due to the club's injury problems, the average age of Postecoglou's line-up on Saturday was 23 years and 336 days, their youngest starting XI for a Premier League match since they faced QPR in March 2015 (23 years and 290 days).
Brandon Austin was also brought into the squad for his first Premier League start, and Postecoglou was impressed with his performance.
“Really good,” he added. “The moments we are going through give players big tasks, and they rise to the occasion.
“The performance deserved a win.”
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