Isak on the double as four-star Newcastle punish Spurs' mistakes
Newcastle United's Alexander Isak (centre) celebrates scoring their side's third goal. Pic: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire.
ALEXANDER Isak scored twice to press his claims for the Premier League's Golden Boot as Newcastle took full advantage of Tottenham's latest St James' Park horror show.
A little under 12 months since shipping five in the opening 20 minutes of a 6-1 humiliation on Tyneside, abject Spurs were at it again. The only positive for Ange Postecoglou was that this time the hosts weren't in quite as ruthless from, making do with just the four goals when at one point double figures beckoned. The final score flattered the visitors.
Isak now has 17 for the league campaign and 21 in all competitions after finding the net in the last six games on home soil to keep him hot on the heels behind Erling Haaland and Ollie Watkins at the top of the goal charts. As a result Newcastle climbed to sixth and Tottenham dropped out of the top four after their heaviest defeat of the season.
A mundane first half-hour was swiftly forgotten as Newcastle took control with two goals in the space of 95 seconds, ably aided by some woeful Spurs defending.
Gordon chased a lost cause from a Bruno Guimaraes upfield punt, out-muscling a half-hearted challenge from Destiny Udogie to put Isak through on goal. The Swede still had a bit to do but made it look easy, leaving Micky van de Ven sprawling in his wake before thrashing his shot past an exposed Guglielmo Vicario.
Spurs had little time to recover before pressing the self-destruct button for a second time as a misplaced backpass from Pedro Porro fell to Gordon in the area. Van de Ven was left on his backside again as the England midfielder cut inside to hapless Dutchman to fire past Vicario from close range.
Isak could have had a first-half hat-trick but wasted two more decent openings to add to his tally as Newcastle threatened to run riot.
It was no more than a temporary reprieve for the punch-drunk visitors and Newcastle's top scorer was back on the scoresheet straight after the interval. Guimaraes' ball over the top exposed a suicidally high Spurs defensive line, allowing Isak to sprint clear and from that point the outcome in the form of the hosts' third goal was never in doubt.
Emil Krafth hit the post late on before Fabian Schar put a more realistic slant on the final score, rising unmarked at the back post to head home Gordon's corner with three minutes remaining.
: Dubravka 7; Krafth 7, Schar 8 (Dummett 90, 6)), Burn 8; Murphy 7 (Livramento 78, 6), Longstaff 7, Guimaraes 8 (90, ), Anderson 8 (Ritchie 89, 6); Gordon 8, Isak 9, Barnes 7 (Hall 89, 5).
Vicario 4; Porro 3 (Emerson Royal 49, 4), Romero 3, van de Ven 2, Udogie 3; Bissouma 3 (Hojbjerg 57, 4), Bentancur 4 (Sarr 57, 4); Johnson 2, Maddison 2 (Locelso 81, 4), Werner 2; Son 3 (Kulusevski 58, 3). Booked: van de Ven, Bissouma, Romero, Maddison.
: Tim Robinson
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