LONDON: Under-fire Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou said he was angry his injury-ravaged side did not get their rewards for a battling performance as Alexander Isak’s strike earned in-form Newcastle a 2-1 win on Saturday.

Both sides struck inside the first six minutes as Anthony Gordon’s controversial equalizer canceled out Dominic Solanke’s opener for Spurs. Isak then scored for the seventh consecutive Premier League game to claim a sixth straight win in all competitions for Newcastle.

The Magpies remain in fifth but move level on points with fourth- placed Chelsea in the battle for a place in next season’s Champions League. Spurs’ ambition of a top-four finish already looks over after a run of one win in eight league games since a stunning 4-0 victory at Premier League champions Manchester City.

Tottenham sit 11th in the table, but a spirited performance from Postecoglou’s stretched squad deserved more as Newcastle were left clinging on in the closing stages.

“I’m so proud, so happy with this group of players the way they played and I’m really angry that they didn’t get the rewards they deserved today,” said Postecoglou.

“I loved everything. The players were given an enormous task and didn’t make any excuses. We deserved to win the game today.”

Spurs were without first-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario along with defenders Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, Destiny Udogie and Ben Davies through injury plus the suspended Rodrigo Bentancur.

The loss of stand-in ‘keeper Fraser Forster to illness meant Postecoglou was forced to throw in Brandon Austin for his Spurs debut.

Slow starts, particularly at home, have been a major part of Spurs’ struggles under Postecoglou but they got off to a flyer. In front of the watching new England manager Thomas Tuchel, Solanke did his case for international recognition no harm with a fine downward header from Pedro Porro’s cross on four minutes.

The lead lasted barely over two minutes, albeit the equal- izer arrived in controversial circumstances.

Joelinton blocked Lucas Bergvall’s pass with his arm to gift Bruno Guimaraes possession and the Brazilian fed in Gordon to fire home. However, a VAR review deemed Joelinton’s handball was not deliberate and the goal stood. Isak needs no help to find the net on current form but got it from an under-manned Spurs defense seven minutes before half-time.

Radu Dragusin deflected Jacob Murphy’s low cross onto the foot of the Swedish striker, who took his tally for the season to 14 goals in all competitions.

Spurs were dealt a further blow as Dragusin, who had been a doubt due to illness, was forced off at the break, leaving Postecoglou without a single natural center back to choose from.

Midfielder Archie Gray and fullback Djed Spence deputized manfully as Tottenham did all the pressing in the second half.

Brennan Johnson blasted off the post after Pape Sarr’s effort had been parried by Martin Dubravka.

LONDON: Erling Haaland scored twice as Manchester City pummelled West Ham 4-1 in the Premier League on Saturday while in-form Newcastle inflicted another painful defeat on Ange Postecoglou’s struggling Tottenham.
Chelsea’s recent woes continued with a 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace, meaning they have taken just two points from four games over the festive period.
Defending champions City beat Leicester last week for just their second win in 14 games but they have now won successive matches for the first time since October and Pep Guardiola will hope they have turned the corner.
The home side took the lead in the 10th minute when West Ham’s Vladimir Coufal deflected City winger Savinho’s cross past goalkeeper Alphonse Areola.
City tightened their grip three minutes before the break when Haaland headed home at the back post from Savinho’s deep cross.
The Norwegian claimed his second 10 minutes after the interval, dinking the ball over Areola after a fine pass from Savinho, to take his league haul to 16 goals, one behind Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah.
Phil Foden made it 4-0 before Niclas Fuellkrug grabbed a consolation for Julen Lopetegui’s men, who suffered a 5-0 mauling by Premier League leaders Liverpool last week.
Despite their shocking run of results, sixth-placed City are just two points behind fourth-placed Chelsea.
But Guardiola said his team were still not back in the groove.
“We have struggled with results recently but the last two victories are good and we did not lose for three,” he told the BBC.
“I would say a month and half (of poor form) compared with eight years is not bad.”
In the early kick-off at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Newcastle came from behind to clinch a fifth straight Premier League win and heap more misery on injury-hit Spurs.
The home side went ahead in the fourth minute through Dominic Solanke.
Newcastle levelled two minutes later when Antony Gordon arrowed an effort into the bottom corner but Postecoglou stood in disbelief on the touchline looking at referee Andrew Madley after Joelinton intercepted Lucas Bergvall’s pass with his hand in the build-up.
VAR deemed Joelinton’s arm to be in a natural position and the contact to be accidental, which provoked a furious reaction from Tottenham’s bench and they were up in arms midway through the first half when the already-booked Dan Burn avoided a second yellow card for handball by the center circle.
In-form Alexander Isak scored what turned out to be the winner toward the end of the first period.
The 2-1 victory, watched by new England manager Thomas Tuchel, leaves Newcastle in fifth spot, which may yet prove enough to secure a place in the Champions League next season
But Spurs have slumped to 12th in the table after five defeats in seven matches.
Postecoglou said he was proud of his players but was the “angriest I think I have ever been in my career.”
“I think it’s clear,” said the Australian. “Now whether people agree with me or not whether it wasn’t handball or it was accidental, I’m just not interested in any of that discussion.
“I know what everyone wants me to say, but all I’ll say is that on any other day, on a fair and even playing ground, we would have won that game. Simple as that.”
Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea were breathing down Liverpool’s necks just two weeks ago but are now nine points behind the Reds, having played two games more.
The Italian, who has always insisted his team are not in the title race, made six changes for the match at Selhurst Park.
Chelsea took the lead when Jadon Sancho drove down the left and found Cole Palmer, who calmly finished in the corner.
The visitors enjoyed the bulk of possession but they could not capitalize and Jean-Philippe Mateta levelled in the 82nd minute.
Aston Villa beat relegation-threatened Leicester 2-1 at home, with goals from Ross Barkley and Leon Bailey.
Brentford recorded their first league win on the road, smashing bottom side Southampton 5-0, and Bournemouth beat Everton 1-0.
Second-placed Arsenal are in action at Brighton in the 1730 GMT kick-off while Liverpool host crisis-hit Manchester United on Sunday.