Source: Daily_Mail
Newcastle 1 Tottenham 1: Aaron Lennon leaves it late to rob Magpies
Well at least Alan Pardew knows how Harry Redknapp felt and, for that matter, vice-versa. [LNB]Because if the Spurs managerexperienced the anger and injustice of being mugged in Madrid onThursday night, his opposite number at Newcastle must have experiencedthe same emotions after Aaron Lennon's injury-time equaliser deniedUnited the three points they just about deserved for a display full ofcharacter and commitment. [LNB]For the second week running, Unitedsuffered in time added on after North-East rivals Sunderland grabbed afortunate equaliser, but yesterday there was nothing lucky aboutLennon's strike. [LNB] Aerial display: Luka Modric (left) battles with Newcastle's Jonas Gutierrez[LNB]He cut in from the left, left DannySimpson and Mike Williamson in disarray and rifled a low right-footerwide of Steve Harper's right hand.[LNB] Spurs rarely come away from StJames' Park with anything other than a deeper knowledge of how theGeordies enjoy the taste of victory, but there was a spirit andtenacity in the way they fought until the final whistle which suggeststheir chances of breaking into the top four are not remote. [LNB]To do that, Redknapp will be looking for improvement from several players, not least new signing Steven Pienaar. [LNB]Screamer: Fabricio Coloccinivolleys in for Newcastle's goal[LNB]The South Africa international hadbeen the focus of a tug of war between Spurs and their London rivalsChelsea while at Everton, two honours-chasing sides anxious to cash inon what looked like the cut-price bargain of the January transferwindow. [LNB][LNB]One could be forgiven for wonderingwhat all the fuss was about. Compared to the likes of Joey Barton andKevin Nolan and the visitors' best player, Luka Modric, he was totallyinsignificant. [LNB]Pienaar's substitution to make wayfor Niko Kranjcar after 83 minutes was hardly unexpected, but by thenRedknapp had decided to threw caution to the wind, replacing thesimilarly ineffective Jermaine Jenas with Peter Crouch in an effort toruffle a defence which had coped well enough with his two-manstrikeforce. [LNB]Newcastle, whose prospects were doneno harm when Spurs dangerman Gareth Bale had to go off after only 11minutes with a recurrence of a back injury, went close when a Leon Besteffort came back off the bar but they were indebted to Harper when hemade a point-blank save from Jermain Defoe.[LNB] Fabricio Coloccini, a colossus inthe Newcastle defence, became their unexpected goal star in the 59thminute when he popped up on the left wing. [LNB]He chested down a raking crossfieldball from Wayne Routledge, sped past Alan Hutton and fired in a raspingshot that Carlo Cudicini managed to get a hand to yet he still failedto prevent a goal.[LNB]But the Spurs goalkeeper then kepthis team in the game by producing a tremendous save from PeterLovenkrands in the 69th minute.[LNB] It always seemed a flimsy lead, especially when Redknapp's shake-up stoked up an all-out assault in the last 15 minutes. [LNB]Modric thundered a shot against thebar in the 76th minute but Newcastle's stout defending looked likepaying off until that final Lennon effort. [LNB] [LNB] [LNB] New boy: Steven Pienaar, left, has a shot towards goal past Newcastle United's Fabricio Coloccini[LNB] [LNB]Pardew, justifiably disconsolate at the end, nevertheless praised the opposition.[LNB] 'We were up against a great team today - it was a disappointing end,' he said. 'For all their quality we looked the bigger threat. [LNB]'We scored a great goal from Coloccini and from that point on it was about if Tottenham were going to score.[LNB] 'The back four were brilliant at times. And then for some bizarre reason we got exuberant in trying to getting a second goal. We committed too many bodies forward. Against Spurs you can't do that. [LNB]'You couldn't criticise the ambition of the team, but if you're a hardened professional like me you just want the game to be seen out.' [LNB]However, the Newcastle boss did single out Coloccini for praise, adding: 'I thought he was the stand-out player. He was brilliant at the back. Then he goes up the other end and scores. It was a great, great goal.' [LNB]Spurs boss Redknapp was naturally relieved to salvage a point.[LNB] 'When you are losing 1-0 that late in the game, it feels like a point gained.You're delighted to get something out of the game,' he said. [LNB]However, he admitted Bale's back problem was a worry. [LNB]'The injury is causing us concern. It's been dragging on for a few weeks.' [LNB]And as far for Spurs new boy Pienaar, he added: 'I was pleased with Pienaar's debut. I threw him in at the deep end.' [LNB] I've been mugged! Redknapp is robbed in street on Spanish scouting tripThe Matt Lawton Interview: Spurs defender Assou-Ekotto is a Smart guyPardew poised to make fresh bid for Swiss midfielder BarnettaAlan Pardew surprised that Newcastle's Kevin Nolan has no England capAll the latest Newcastle United news, features and opinionAll the latest Tottenham Hotspur news, features and opinion[LNB] Explore more:People: Aaron Lennon, Danny Guthrie, Carlo Cudicini, Harry Redknapp, Andy Carroll, Sebastien Bassong, Leon Best, Joey Barton, Peter Crouch, Jermaine Jenas, Luka Modric, Steven Taylor, Gareth Bale, Jermain Defoe, Alan Smith Places: Newcastle
