Tottenham player ratings: How we rated first-half shocker at Newcastle
ottenham found themselves 5-0 down at the interval in Sunday’s six-pointer against Newcastle after perhaps the worst opening 20 minutes the Premier League has ever seen.
Jacob Murphy fired Newcastle ahead after 61 seconds as Spurs’ new-look back four was immediately breached. Joelinton added a second after rounding Hugo Lloris and it was 3-0 within 10 minutes when Murphy struck again, this time spectacularly from range. Alexander Isak added two smart finishes from close range to complete the rout.
Dan Kilpatrick was at St. James’ Park to rate the Spurs players’ first-half performances…
Hugo Lloris – 1
Well beaten for all five Newcastle goals and easily rounded by Joelinton for number two.
Pedro Porro – 1
Dreadfully exposed as a full-back in a back four. Joelinton easily beat him ahead of Murphy’s opener and then ran behind him to double Spurs’ lead.
Cristian Romero – 1
A World Cup winner in a back four but just as poor as the rest, and all at sea for at least three of the goals.
Eric Dier – 1
Also all over the place positionally as Newcastle ran riot.
Ivan Perisic – 1
Never looked comfortable at left-back and Isak’s second goal came down his side.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg – 1
Offered no protection for a wildly exposed back four as Newcastle waltzed through the middle of the pitch repeatedly.
Oliver Skipp – 2
See above. Showed some fight, at least, and booked for a rash challenge
Pape Matar Sarr – 2
Failed to challenge Isak for goal number five shortly before he was withdrawn, but hard not to feel he was thrown under the bus.
Dejan Kulusevski – 2
Made little headway down the right against the imposing Dan Burn.
Heung-min Son – 2
Not lacking effort but his decision making in the final third was off.
Harry Kane – 3
Flashed Spurs’ only serious chance of the half wide of the far post and pressed hard. What must he be thinking?
Substitutions
Davinson Sanchez (Sarr 22′) – 5
Comfortably Spurs’ best player of the first half by virtue of not being on the pitch for any of Newcastle’s goals.
Not used: Forster, Richarlison ,Danjuma, Tanganga, Davies, Lenglet, Mundle.