Newcastle's resurgence continues, gaining momentum with another victory and honing their Champions League credentials once again.
The new year began with the same good form as Alexander Isak, who extended his scoring streak and claimed the winning goal. It wasn't his best goal – it went into an open goal from a couple of yards – but he has 14 for the season and has scored in each of his last seven Premier League games.
His goals have propelled Newcastle's rise up the table and Eddie Howe, ruled out for the England job, can feel satisfied with this, his sixth consecutive victory, achieved against Thomas Tuchel, who began his new job with a ticket in the Seats VIP.
Tuchel once said that Tottenham was his favorite English team. Apparently he liked the name, but all the Spurs fans are still hurting.
For them, the new year has brought more of the same old problems. Only worse. In addition to an injury crisis that shows no signs of abating, Ange Postecoglou was missing players who had fallen ill on the field.
They are dropping like flies. Fraser Forster was left bedridden leaving Brandon Austin to make his debut in goal. Radu Dragusin failed to make it through the second half, leaving Spurs without a recognized centre-half on the pitch.
Alexander Isak scored the winning goal as Newcastle came from behind to beat Tottenham 2-1.
Isak scored what turned out to be the decisive goal of the game in the 38th minute.
Ange Postecoglou became even more frustrated when his Tottenham team was defeated.
Additionally, Postecoglou decided to start with captain Heung-min Son and vice-captain James Maddison on the bench.
Somehow, his depleted team produced a lively performance in the second half. In fact, it has been one of the most encouraging halves in recent weeks and the manager deserves credit for his bravery. And he almost got a point.
Maddison went close with a ball and Dominic Solanke, scorer of the game's first goal in the fourth minute, should have headed in to equalize in stoppage time. His shot was too close to goalkeeper Martin Dubravka.
Austin was making his first start at Tottenham and his first appearance for anyone since his loan spell at Orlando City in the summer of 2021.
He impressed with his aerial presence, plucking crosses cleanly out of the air and resisting physical attention at set pieces, but he was already knocking the ball out of his net within six minutes, a controversial goal finished off by Anthony Gordon.
Lucas Bergvall, the Swedish teenager selected ahead of Yves Bissouma in Tottenham's midfield, saw a pass out of defense intercepted by Joelinton. Bruno Guimaraes picked up the loose ball and released Gordon, who finished with confidence.
There was a lengthy VAR check when it became clear that Joelinton's interception had been made with his left hand, but the goal was allowed to stand. VAR Chris Kavanagh ruled his hand had been next to him in a natural position and the contact was accidental.
Postecoglou became enraged on the touchline and his assistant Matt Wells took complaints to fourth referee Lewis Smith. They were offended because Bergvall's pass was directed at Pedro Porro, coming out from the right side.
Dominic Solanke celebrates after giving Tottenham the lead just four minutes into the game
Tottenham's lead only lasted two minutes before Anthony Gordon equalized for Newcastle.
Brandon Austin debuted at Tottenham and Fraser Forster missed due to illness
New England coach Thomas Tuchel and assistant Anthony Barry attended.
When Joelinton made the block, Porro was well out of position and Gordon in yards of space.
The home crowd turned on the referees and Spurs lost their composure despite making a positive start and taking an early lead thanks to Dominic Solanke, who escaped Sven Botman to head in a Porro cross in the fourth minute.
Botman returned to the Newcastle defense after nine months out with a knee injury and perhaps a little rusty, but Spurs' threat diminished once the visitors equalised.
They dominated until the break. Austin saved a Gordon shot and Isak wasted a glorious chance from six yards before scoring his 14th goal of the season.
Jacob Murphy crossed low from the right, Dragusin lunged to cut the ball out but turned it towards his own goal and Isak pounced to sweep the ball into the empty net.
Gordon and Joelinton had chances to extend the lead and for a moment it looked like Newcastle might hold on to it before half-time.
As it turned out, the Spurs held on, but Postecoglou's personnel problems only deepened. Dragusin, one of those battling illness before the match, was unable to return so Sergio Reguilon arrived with Djed Spence moving into the center of defense alongside Archie Gray.
Interestingly, Spurs improved as an attacking force and almost leveled. Pape Matar Sarr forced a good low save from Dubravka and Brennan Johnson fired the rebound against a post from an acute angle.
Newcastle threatened at half-time. Gordon fired over after Gray blocked Sandro Tonali. Gordon then suffered a nosebleed in a collision with Dejan Kulusevski. Bloody but upright and rising.
For Tottenham, another defeat that extends a miserable streak of one win in eight Premier League games.