Men's

Matchday 16

White Hart Lane

Sun 13 Dec 2015 | 16:00

Tottenham Hotspur Badge

1

-

2

  • Mitrović
    74'
  • Pérez
    90+3'

Match Report

Substitute Ayoze Perez scored three minutes into stoppage time as Newcastle came from behind to beat Tottenham and move out of the relegation zone.

Magpies keeper Rob Elliot frustrated Spurs with two fine saves to deny Erik Lamela before Eric Dier struck.

Tottenham 1-2 Newcastle: Europe no excuse for loss - Pochettino Dier was unmarked when he glanced home Christian Eriksen's corner.

Newcastle levelled when substitute Aleksandar Mitrovic tapped home after a scramble inside the six-yard box before Perez struck deep into stoppage time.

Newcastle's third win in five games lifts them three places to 15th, Norwich City dropping into the relegation zone.

Tottenham, who would have climbed above Manchester United into fourth spot with victory, are now without a league win in three games.

Steve McClaren and his Newcastle players were facing another bad day when the Magpies defence forgot to mark Dier, who glanced home his third goal of the campaign six minutes before the interval.

Elliot had already made two excellent saves to keep out Lamela and the Newcastle keeper later denied Harry Kane.

Yet the visitors showed spirit and desire - ingredients missing for long spells of the season - to produce a victory that had appeared very unlikely.

They were rewarded for their persistence 16 minutes from time.

Mitrovic, who had only been on the pitch two minutes, bundled an equaliser after Toby Alderweireld and Hugo Lloris failed to clear Chancel Mbemba's header.

Perez sealed a dramatic finish when he sneaked inside Jan Vertonghen before striking the ball past Lloris at the near post.

Tottenham's first defeat since the opening day of the season, coming off the back of a home Europa League game, will not trigger any alarms at White Hart Lane.

But boss Mauricio Pochettino will be concerned at his side's failure to kill off teams. Three times in their past five league games Spurs have taken the lead and not won.

The defending for both Newcastle's goals left a lot to be desired, but Spurs should have doubled their lead before Newcastle scored their first.

As well as Elliot performed for the visitors, Danny Rose and Kane were guilty of missing good chances.

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino: "Our first half was fantastic - we dominated the game. The second is not easy to explain.

"We made mistakes and we feel very disappointed now because we did not deserve to lose.

"But that is football and you need to compete over 95 minutes. Today was difficult."

Newcastle manager Steve McClaren: "It's answered the critics we have had over last four weeks and it was a great performance in the second half and a great result.

"That is what we are, a bedrock of discipline and hard work. We have talented players, and they know how to win, we just have to do it consistently.

"We haven't turned the corner yet - we need more performances like that. We have been inconsistent."