Ange Postecoglou is hopeful he can turn Tottenham's fortunes around this season despite failing to win their last three Premier League games heading into the new year.
Postecoglou watched as his team got a late equalizer to draw 2–2 with Wolves in their final match of 2024, leaving them 11th in the standings and 11 points behind the top four.
Next up for Spurs is a home game against in-form Newcastle United, and Postecoglou revealed his side's recent form was “hurting” him, but suggested their season was not over.
“I think so because it's still quite tight. I feel like at some point we'll get a relatively healthy squad and if we do that we'll be able to perform consistently at a high level, and we have already done.” This year we showed that we can beat anyone,” Postecoglou said.
“There is a chance that you will go running, but at the moment that is secondary to the first part. “We have to try to get some support for the players – both mentally and physically – and in terms of numbers, to give them the opportunity to play at their best.”
“It hurts me because ultimately I am responsible. I am the person responsible. So of course it hurts and when I see how hard they try it hurts even more because you want them to get a reward.
“It hurts a lot. At the same time, it is my responsibility for where we are today, and it is my responsibility to try to get us out of there.”
Newcastle, meanwhile, had a fine end to 2024, winning four consecutive Premier League games for the first time since March and April 2023.
Since the start of November, only Liverpool (23) and Nottingham Forest (21) have achieved more Premier League points than Newcastle (20), with the Magpies now fifth in the standings.
They also scored 21 goals in all competitions in December, only the sixth time they have scored more than 20 goals in a calendar month, including two under Eddie Howe (also 22 in April 2023).
But despite their stellar end to the year, midfielder Joelinton, who scored in Newcastle's 2-0 win over Manchester United last time out, suggested there is more to come.
“There is still a long way to go, but the team is improving,” said Joelinton. “A good performance away from home today, three points, two goals, one clean sheet.
“Great mentality from the boys from start to finish, defending our goal and scoring two points to win the game. Belief is high. When you start winning and scoring goals, the confidence comes back.”
“Time will tell how good we are, but we are enjoying football at the moment. We have to be humble and keep our feet on the ground because there is still a long way to go.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Tottenham-Brennan Johnson
Johnson is Tottenham's top scorer in all competitions this season with 11 goals, but he is yet to find the back of the net against Newcastle in his five previous Premier League appearances against them for Forest and Spurs.
However, the Welshman will be confident he can end that run. He has scored (two) or assisted (two) in each of his last four top-flight home games.
Newcastle-Alexander Isak
Isak scored 25 Premier League goals for Newcastle in 2024, while only Alan Shearer scored more in a single year for the club in 2002 (27).
In total, his 43 Premier League goals for the Magpies are only surpassed by Shearer (148), Callum Wilson (47) and Peter Beardsley (46).
MATCH PREDICTION: NEWCASTLE WIN
Newcastle have won four of their last five Premier League games against Tottenham (L1), the same as in their previous fifteen (D2, L9).
After achieving a double win over Tottenham in just one of the 12 seasons between 2008/09 and 2021/22 (2015/16), Newcastle could now do so in two of the last three (also in 2022/2023).
However, the Magpies have won their first league match in only one of the last twelve calendar years (D3 L8), beating Stoke City 1-0 on New Year's Day 2018.
Tottenham, meanwhile, have won two of their last three Premier League home games against Newcastle (L1), the same number as in their previous seven (D1, L4).
But Postecoglou's side are winless in their last five home games in the Premier League, the longest run since a run of eight between March and October 2008 under Juande Ramos, while they last had a longer run in a single season between October 1993 and April 1994 (14). ).
And on Saturday you can expect a nice meeting. Tottenham vs Newcastle is the most played Premier League match that never ended 0-0 (59 meetings). 189 goals have been scored in mutual matches, the third highest scoring match in top history.
OPTA CHANCE OF WINNING
Tottenham – 33.8%
Draw – 24.3%
Newcastle – 41.9%
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