Sabasports Match Preview
Premier League: Newcastle United vs Tottenham Hotspur
Kickoff Time: 2024-04-13 19:30 (HKT)
Source:REUTERS/Isabel Infantes
This season, Newcastle United have experienced a significant decline
in performance, losing their reputation as a dark horse. They currently sits in
eighth place in the league with 47 points, 13 points behind fourth-placed
Tottenham Hotspur, effectively ending their hopes of qualifying for the next
season’s Champions League. In light of the unsatisfactory results, the club’s
top management has made the decision to change the head coach at the end of the
season. This will mark a period of reconstruction for them, with several
players vying for starting positions. Newcastle United have also been plagued
by injuries recently, with as many as 10 players on the injured list. In the
last league match, they were forced to field 19-year-old Lewis Hall. However,
they have performed relatively well at home, boasting a 62.5% home winning rate
in the league and maintaining a goal-scoring record in home matches.
Unfortunately, prior to this game, they received the sad news of the passing of
Irish legend Joe Kinnear, who had previously served as head coach and director
of football at the club. Joe Kinnear passed away at the age of 77. Ahead of the
upcoming match, Newcastle United will hold a memorial ceremony at home, likely
providing the players with added motivation and fighting spirit.
Tottenham Hotspur have shown signs of improvement with the return of
several injured players, earning seven points in their last three league
matches. However, their away results have been inconsistent, with only one win,
3 draws, and two losses in their previous six away games. From a tactical
standpoint, Tottenham tend to adopt a mid-position or even mid-low pressure
approach depending on the circumstances. They rely on two key playmakers in the
forward line, James Maddison and Yves Bissouma, who contribute significantly to
the attacking play. However, when faced with challenges during a match,
Tottenham’s players often adhere too strictly to coach Ange Postecoglou’s
tactical plan without adapting effectively. If the passing routes of Maddison
and Bissouma are blocked, other players tend to passively wait for the coach to
make adjustments. Even after Postecoglou introduces substitutions, it appears
that they continue to adhere stubbornly to the original tactics. In essence,
Tottenham lack a viable Plan B for their tactical approach.
Newcastle United’s recent 6-1 victory over Tottenham in their most
recent home match certainly provides them with a psychological advantage
heading into their upcoming encounter. Considering Tottenham’s unstable away
results and their perceived difficulties in adapting their formation during
matches, it does seem that Newcastle United could capitalize on this
opportunity to secure points at home.
Newcastle United’s Last 5 Games: WDWLL
24-04-06 Fulham 0-1 Newcastle United
24-04-03 Newcastle United 1-1 Everton
24-03-30 Newcastle United 4-3 West Ham United
24-03-17 Manchester City 2-0 Newcastle United
24-03-12 Chelsea 3-2 Newcastle United
Tottenham Hotspur’s Last 5 Games: WDWLW
24-04-08 Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 Nottingham Forest
24-04-03 West Ham United 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur
24-03-30 Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Luton Town
24-03-17 Fulham 3-0 Tottenham Hotspur
24-03-10 Aston Villa 0-4 Tottenham Hotspur
Head To Head Record:
23-12-11 Tottenham Hotspur 4-1 Newcastle United
23-04-23 Newcastle United 6-1 Tottenham Hotspur
22-10-23 Tottenham Hotspur 1-2 Newcastle United
22-04-03 Tottenham Hotspur 5-1 Newcastle United
21-10-17 Newcastle United 2-3 Tottenham Hotspur
Prediction: Newcastle United to
win or Draw