Ange Postecoglou admits he was “angrier than ever in his career” about refereeing decisions in Tottenham's loss to Newcastle, as he responds to a journalist in a tension-filled interview.

Ange Postecoglou claimed he was angrier than ever as he criticized refereeing decisions and conspiracy against misfortune after his depleted Tottenham side were beaten at home by Newcastle.

The Spurs manager's sense of injustice revolved around Newcastle's first goal, an equalizer scored by Anthony Gordon after the ball clearly hit Joelinton in the hand as he blocked a pass.

Referee Andrew Madley saw no infringement and VAR Chris Kavanagh did not overturn it because Joelinton's hand was in a natural position and the contact was ruled accidental.

“I couldn't be more proud of the players,” said the Spurs manager. 'I thought they were exceptional.

“I'm very, very angry, I think I'm angrier than I've ever been in my career that they were denied proper rewards for a fantastic performance.

“If that was a different day and it had been a fair and level playing field, we would have won that game.”

Ange Postecoglou claimed he was angrier than ever after Tottenham lost to Newcastle

Spurs were missing 10 first-team players at kick-off and others suffered illnesses

Postecoglou's sense of injustice revolved around Newcastle's first goal, an equalizer scored by Anthony Gordon after the ball clearly hit Joelinton in the hand.

“I can't lie and not see it because I have seen it,” Newcastle manager Eddie Howe said. And it definitely hit Joelinton's arm, I can tell you that. But I think his arm was down and the referee and the VAR followed the current protocol.”

Tottenham were outraged when Dan Burn was penalized for a similar handball infringement as the game slipped away from them. Alexander Isak scored Newcastle's winning goal.

Spurs, with 10 first-team players absent at kick-off and others ill, led through Dominic Solanke and produced a spirited fightback but could not find a second.

“We were exceptional,” Postecoglou said. 'Our football was excellent against a very good opponent who was in good form. It was brilliant, spectacular, a game that we deserved to win and any other day we would have won.

'Radu Dragusin and Archie Gray literally got up from their sick beds to play, and Radu was devastated at half-time. I had no more to give.

'On Thursday we literally had 11 players fit to train. But that doesn't matter to me, what matters to me is that the players put in an incredible performance, fantastic football, they created chances, they denied them and they had to defend hard, which we did.

“And it's more unfair to them that they didn't receive the rewards today.”

Dominic Solanke headed home in the first four minutes to give Tottenham the lead.

But Newcastle came back strongly thanks to a composed goal from Gordon minutes later.

Alexander Isak completed a great comeback with his 13th Premier League goal of the season.

He had previously responded to a journalist who asked him about refereeing decisions during Tottenham's loss to Newcastle.

Postecoglou said after the match: “In terms of the balance of the game, any balance you want, all things being equal, we would have won today.” Things were not fair or balanced.

When the journalist pressed him about decisions he didn't particularly agree with, the 59-year-old lashed out.

“You can talk about whatever you want,” he said. “You want my opinion: if everything was equal and balanced, we would have won.”