Why Should The Toon Fear London?

08 November 2013 12:52
Everyone is talking about this London Hoodoo! WTF? The  statistic ahead of the clash with Spurs is that only Everton (97) and Manchester City (84) have lost more Premier League matches against London teams than Newcastle (83).

But we have only missed TWO seasons in the top flight since the start of the Premiership, so that shows we have played in London more times than most.

So I wouldn't read too much into that.

What makes London more special than anywhere else?

We haven't beat Man Utd at Old Trafford since 1972, so in theory we should fear Manchester more than London.

2012/13 SPURS 2 NEWCASTLE UTD 1

SPURS: Formation: 25. Hugo Lloris 28. Kyle Walker 20. Michael Dawson 33. Steven Caulker 16. Kyle Naughton 75' 7. Aaron Lennon 8. Scott Parker 19. Mousa Dembele 90+3' 23. Lewis Holtby 69' 2. Clint Dempsey 11. Gareth Bale Subs: 24. Brad Friedel 5. Jan Vertonghen 10. Emmanuel Adebayor 69' 13. William Gallas 22. Gylfi Sigurdsson 29. Jake Livermore 90+3' 32. Benoit Assou-Ekotto 75'

NEWCASTLE: 1. Tim Krul 26. Mathieu Debuchy 2. Fabricio Coloccini 27. Steven Taylor 3. Davide Santon 14. James Perch 82' 7. Moussa Sissoko 4. Yohan Cabaye 18. Jonas Gutierrez 86' 11. Yoan Gouffran 58' 9. Papiss Cisse Subs: 37. Steve Harper 8. Vurnon Anita 13. Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa 22. Sylvain Marveaux 58' 23. Shola Ameobi 86' 24. Cheick Tiote 82' 25. Gabriel Obertan

Gareth Bale lived up to his billing as Tottenham's own Cristiano Ronaldo after firing Andre Villas-Boas' side to an entertaining victory over Newcastle at White Hart Lane.

Villas-Boas was at pains to point out the similarities between Bale and Ronaldo during the week, and the Welshman put in a performance the Portuguese would have been proud of today.

Bale beat Tim Krul with a 25-yard free-kick to open the scoring for the Londoners and he then sealed the win with a superb break-away goal that ended with him slotting the ball between the Newcastle goalkeeper's legs.

Newcastle dominated large parts of the game but Bale, like he has done so many times this season, swung the game in Spurs' favour.

The 23-year-old, who scored the decisive goals in Tottenham's last two matches, now has 19 goals for club and country this season. Only the athletic brilliance of Krul prevented him taking home the match ball for the second time this season.

How the watching Roy Hodgson must wish he was English.

Newcastle's goal came from Yoan Gouffran, who was later carried off on a stretcher with a serious-looking leg injury.

The win stretched Tottenham's unbeaten Barclays Premier League run to 10 matches and put the north London club in to third, although Chelsea will have a chance to move ahead of their rivals if they beat Wigan later.

Villas-Boas and Pardew fell out last season, but there was a strong sense of bonhomie as they embraced on the touchline before kick-off.

Bale was in no mood to show the visitors the same love. Just 70 seconds had elapsed when he burst down the left after a clever one-two with Lewis Holtby, but Davide Santon cut the Welshman's cross out before Clint Dempsey could convert.

Three minutes later and Spurs had the lead. Fabricio Coloccini clattered into Dempsey 25 yards out and Bale stepped up to deliver a Ronaldo-esque free-kick which dipped over the wall past a diving Krul.

Spurs dominated the rest of the opening quarter with some scintillating attacking football.

Mousa Dembele penetrated the box and rolled the ball back to Holtby, who came within inches of scoring his first goal for the club. Thereafter Newcastle came back in to the game. Lloris saved from a Gouffran curler and Cisse directed a free diving header just wide of his compatriot's goal.

Holtby momentarily raised the hopes of the home crowd, but Newcastle remained on top and the seemingly inevitable equaliser came with 24 minutes gone.

Sissoko galloped down the right on a Newcastle counter and pulled the ball back to Gouffran who beat Lloris via a deflection from the diving Michael Dawson.

Spurs had two penalty appeals turned down. The first - when Aaron Lennon's shot struck Santon's arm - looked credible, but the second - when Bale's volley brushed Mathieu Debuchy's shoulder - was not.

Gutierrez whipped a cross in to the box to find Yohan Cabaye, but the Frenchman mis-controlled and Lloris came to the rescue.

Tottenham failed to up their performance straight after the break.

The game came to a pause for seven minutes as Gouffran received treatment for what looked like a serious injury.

Kyle Walker clipped the forward's right shin on the halfway line and he needed oxygen before being carried off on a stretcher. He was then taken to hospital for an x-ray.

Bale looked to be Tottenham's best hope of finding a winner. The Welshman, who fired his country to victory over Austria in midweek, picked the ball off Lennon and fired a low cross in to the box but it was cut out before Dempsey could score.

Bale came forward again, charging at the defence before firing a powerful shot which Taylor blocked bravely.

Taylor went from hero to villain moments later, however, as his mix-up with Coloccini allowed Bale to race through the Toon defence and fire between the legs of Krul to make it 2-1.

Caulker had a chance to seal the win moments later with a free header when Krul went walkabout, but the defender nodded wide.

Only Krul's finger-tips prevented the Welshman from adding a third after he raced through from a long punt down field before firing a powerful volley at goal.

Cabaye put in a terrible tackle on Dembele, stamping on the Belgian's ankle in a late attempt to win the ball. Spurs' players demanded a red card, but Phil Dowd issued just a yellow.

Newcastle threatened to equalise in the second of seven added minutes through substitute Shola Ameobi, but Lloris saved well to deny the striker.

Krul's acrobatics denied Bale his hat-trick twice in added time, but the winger did not mind. He had already done enough damage to see off the Toon.

TOON v SPURS - THE HISTORY

2012/2013 Sat 09 Feb Tottenham H. 2 - 1 Newcastle Utd. Premier League    Sat 18 Aug Newcastle Utd. 2 - 1 Tottenham H. Premier League   2011/2012 Sat 11 Feb Tottenham H. 5 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Premier League    Sun 16 Oct Newcastle Utd. 2 - 2 Tottenham H. Premier League   2010/2011 Sat 22 Jan Newcastle Utd. 1 - 1 Tottenham H. Premier League    Tue 28 Dec Tottenham H. 2 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Premier League   2008/2009 Sun 19 Apr Tottenham H. 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Premier League    Sun 21 Dec Newcastle Utd. 2 - 1 Tottenham H. Premier League    Wed 24 Sep Newcastle Utd. 1 - 2 Tottenham H. League Cup   2007/2008 Sun 30 Mar Tottenham H. 1 - 4 Newcastle Utd. Premier League    Mon 22 Oct Newcastle Utd. 3 - 1 Tottenham H. Premier League   2006/2007 Sun 14 Jan Tottenham H. 2 - 3 Newcastle Utd. Premiership    Sat 23 Dec Newcastle Utd. 3 - 1 Tottenham H. Premiership   2005/2006 Sat 01 Apr Newcastle Utd. 3 - 1 Tottenham H. Premiership    Sat 31 Dec Tottenham H. 2 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Premiership   2004/2005 Sun 10 Apr Tottenham H. 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Premiership    Sun 13 Mar Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 Tottenham H. F.A. Cup    Sat 21 Aug Newcastle Utd. 0 - 1 Tottenham H. Premiership   2003/2004 Sun 14 Mar Tottenham H. 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Premiership    Sat 13 Dec Newcastle Utd. 4 - 0 Tottenham H. Premiership   2002/2003 Wed 29 Jan Tottenham H. 0 - 1 Newcastle Utd. Premiership    Sun 29 Dec Newcastle Utd. 2 - 1 Tottenham H. Premiership   2001/2002 Wed 30 Jan Tottenham H. 1 - 3 Newcastle Utd. Premiership    Sun 21 Oct Newcastle Utd. 0 - 2 Tottenham H. Premiership   2000/2001 Tue 02 Jan Tottenham H. 4 - 2 Newcastle Utd. Premiership    Sat 26 Aug Newcastle Utd. 2 - 0 Tottenham H. Premiership   1999/2000 Wed 22 Dec Newcastle Utd. 6 - 1 Tottenham H. F.A. Cup    Sun 12 Dec Tottenham H. 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. F.A. Cup    Sun 28 Nov Newcastle Utd. 2 - 1 Tottenham H. Premiership    Mon 09 Aug Tottenham H. 3 - 1 Newcastle Utd. Premiership   1998/1999 Sun 11 Apr Newcastle Utd. 2 - 0 Tottenham H. F.A. Cup   after extra time, 90 minutes 0-0; played at Old Trafford  Mon 05 Apr Newcastle Utd. 1 - 1 Tottenham H. Premiership    Sat 24 Oct Tottenham H. 2 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Premiership   1997/1998 Sat 25 Apr Tottenham H. 2 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Premiership    Sat 04 Oct Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 Tottenham H. Premiership   1996/1997 Sat 28 Dec Newcastle Utd. 7 - 1 Tottenham H. Premiership    Sat 07 Sep Tottenham H. 1 - 2 Newcastle Utd. Premiership   1995/1996 Sun 05 May Newcastle Utd. 1 - 1 Tottenham H. Premiership    Sun 29 Oct Tottenham H. 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. Premiership   1994/1995 Wed 03 May Newcastle Utd. 3 - 3 Tottenham H. Premiership    Sat 03 Dec Tottenham H. 4 - 2 Newcastle Utd. Premiership   1993/1994 Sat 04 Dec Tottenham H. 1 - 2 Newcastle Utd. Premiership    Sat 14 Aug Newcastle Utd. 0 - 1 Tottenham H. Premiership   1988/1989 Sat 31 Dec Tottenham H. 2 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division    Sat 03 Sep Newcastle Utd. 2 - 2 Tottenham H. First Division   1987/1988 Sat 23 Jan Newcastle Utd. 2 - 0 Tottenham H. First Division    Wed 19 Aug Tottenham H. 3 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division   1986/1987 Wed 25 Mar Newcastle Utd. 1 - 1 Tottenham H. First Division    Sat 21 Feb Tottenham H. 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. F.A. Cup    Mon 25 Aug Tottenham H. 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division   1985/1986 Sat 22 Mar Newcastle Utd. 2 - 2 Tottenham H. First Division    Sat 07 Sep Tottenham H. 5 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division   1984/1985 Mon 06 May Newcastle Utd. 2 - 3 Tottenham H. First Division    Sat 08 Dec Tottenham H. 3 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division   1976/1977 Sat 26 Feb Newcastle Utd. 2 - 0 Tottenham H. First Division    Wed 25 Aug Tottenham H. 0 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division   1975/1976 Sat 24 Apr Tottenham H. 0 - 3 Newcastle Utd. First Division    Sat 04 Oct Newcastle Utd. 2 - 2 Tottenham H. First Division   1974/1975 Sat 11 Jan Newcastle Utd. 2 - 5 Tottenham H. First Division    Sat 07 Dec Tottenham H. 3 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division   1973/1974 Sat 11 May Newcastle Utd. 0 - 2 Tottenham H. First Division    Sat 27 Oct Tottenham H. 0 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division   1972/1973 Sat 28 Apr Tottenham H. 3 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division    Wed 30 Aug Newcastle Utd. 0 - 1 Tottenham H. First Division   1971/1972 Sat 22 Jan Newcastle Utd. 3 - 1 Tottenham H. First Division    Wed 18 Aug Tottenham H. 0 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division   1970/1971 Sat 20 Feb Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 Tottenham H. First Division    Sat 21 Nov Tottenham H. 1 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division   1969/1970 Sat 28 Feb Newcastle Utd. 1 - 2 Tottenham H. First Division    Sat 18 Oct Tottenham H. 2 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division   1968/1969 Wed 02 Apr Tottenham H. 0 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division    Sat 28 Sep Newcastle Utd. 2 - 2 Tottenham H. First Division   1967/1968 Sat 27 Apr Newcastle Utd. 1 - 3 Tottenham H. First Division    Sat 02 Dec Tottenham H. 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division   1966/1967 Sat 31 Dec Tottenham H. 4 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division    Sat 27 Aug Newcastle Utd. 0 - 2 Tottenham H. First Division   1965/1966 Sat 15 Jan Tottenham H. 2 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division    Sat 23 Oct Newcastle Utd. 0 - 0 Tottenham H. First Division   1960/1961 Wed 22 Mar Tottenham H. 1 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division    Sat 29 Oct Newcastle Utd. 3 - 4 Tottenham H. First Division   1959/1960 Sat 19 Dec Tottenham H. 4 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division    Sat 22 Aug Newcastle Utd. 1 - 5 Tottenham H. First Division   1958/1959 Sat 17 Jan Newcastle Utd. 1 - 2 Tottenham H. First Division    Sat 06 Sep Tottenham H. 1 - 3 Newcastle Utd. First Division   1957/1958 Sat 28 Dec Tottenham H. 3 - 3 Newcastle Utd. First Division    Sat 31 Aug Newcastle Utd. 3 - 1 Tottenham H. First Division   1956/1957 Sat 23 Mar Newcastle Utd. 2 - 2 Tottenham H. First Division    Sat 10 Nov Tottenham H. 3 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division   1955/1956 Sat 04 Feb Newcastle Utd. 1 - 2 Tottenham H. First Division    Sat 24 Sep Tottenham H. 3 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division   1954/1955 Sat 30 Apr Tottenham H. 2 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division    Sat 16 Oct Newcastle Utd. 4 - 4 Tottenham H. First Division   1953/1954 Sat 06 Feb Tottenham H. 3 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division    Sat 19 Sep Newcastle Utd. 1 - 3 Tottenham H. First Division   1952/1953 Sat 03 Jan Tottenham H. 3 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division    Sat 30 Aug Newcastle Utd. 1 - 1 Tottenham H. First Division   1951/1952 Sat 29 Dec Tottenham H. 2 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division    Sat 01 Sep Newcastle Utd. 7 - 2 Tottenham H. First Division   1950/1951 Sat 07 Apr Newcastle Utd. 0 - 1 Tottenham H. First Division    Sat 18 Nov Tottenham H. 7 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division   1947/1948 Sat 24 Apr Tottenham H. 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. Second Division    Sat 06 Dec Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 Tottenham H. Second Division   1946/1947 Sat 18 Jan Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 Tottenham H. Second Division    Sat 14 Sep Tottenham H. 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. Second Division   1938/1939 Wed 01 Mar Newcastle Utd. 0 - 1 Tottenham H. Second Division    Sat 17 Sep Tottenham H. 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Second Division   1937/1938 Wed 02 Feb Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 Tottenham H. Second Division    Sat 11 Sep Tottenham H. 2 - 2 Newcastle Utd. Second Division   1936/1937 Sat 09 Jan Tottenham H. 0 - 1 Newcastle Utd. Second Division    Sat 12 Sep Newcastle Utd. 0 - 1 Tottenham H. Second Division   1935/1936 Sat 04 Jan Newcastle Utd. 1 - 4 Tottenham H. Second Division    Sat 07 Sep Tottenham H. 1 - 2 Newcastle Utd. Second Division   1933/1934 Sat 24 Mar Newcastle Utd. 1 - 3 Tottenham H. First Division    Sat 11 Nov Tottenham H. 4 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division   1927/1928 Sat 07 Jan Tottenham H. 5 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division    Sat 03 Sep Newcastle Utd. 4 - 1 Tottenham H. First Division   1926/1927 Sat 16 Apr Newcastle Utd. 3 - 2 Tottenham H. First Division    Sat 27 Nov Tottenham H. 1 - 3 Newcastle Utd. First Division   1925/1926 Thu 25 Mar Tottenham H. 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division    Sat 14 Nov Newcastle Utd. 3 - 1 Tottenham H. First Division   1924/1925 Sat 11 Apr Tottenham H. 3 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division    Sat 06 Dec Newcastle Utd. 1 - 1 Tottenham H. First Division   1923/1924 Sat 26 Jan Newcastle Utd. 2 - 2 Tottenham H. First Division    Sat 19 Jan Tottenham H. 2 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division   1922/1923 Sat 25 Nov Newcastle Utd. 1 - 1 Tottenham H. First Division    Sat 18 Nov Tottenham H. 0 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division   1921/1922 Sat 12 Nov Newcastle Utd. 0 - 2 Tottenham H. First Division    Sat 05 Nov Tottenham H. 4 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division   1920/1921 Mon 27 Dec Tottenham H. 2 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division    Sat 25 Dec Newcastle Utd. 1 - 1 Tottenham H. First Division   1914/1915 Fri 02 Apr Tottenham H. 0 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division    Sat 03 Oct Newcastle Utd. 4 - 0 Tottenham H. First Division   1913/1914 Sat 21 Mar Tottenham H. 0 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division    Sat 15 Nov Newcastle Utd. 2 - 0 Tottenham H. First Division   1912/1913 Sat 29 Mar Newcastle Utd. 3 - 0 Tottenham H. First Division    Sat 23 Nov Tottenham H. 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division   1911/1912 Sat 30 Mar Newcastle Utd. 2 - 0 Tottenham H. First Division    Sat 25 Nov Tottenham H. 1 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division   1910/1911 Sat 21 Jan Newcastle Utd. 1 - 1 Tottenham H. First Division    Sat 17 Sep Tottenham H. 1 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division   1909/1910 Sat 19 Mar Tottenham H. 0 - 4 Newcastle Utd. First Division    Sat 06 Nov Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 Tottenham H. First Division  

 

Source: Newcastle United Mad

Source: FOOTYMAD