Tottenham Hotspur have endured another setback in the Premier League, losing their opening two fixtures without finding the net, as Newcastle United clinched a 2-0 win thanks to goals from the revitalised pair Anthony Elanga and Yoane Wissa. The Spurs’ high‑profile summer, which saw the club invest roughly £320 million in eight fresh signings, has yet to translate into tangible results on the pitch. Roberto De Zerbi’s side entered the match amid a chorus of boos, still reeling from a 3-0 drubbing at Brentford a week earlier and struggling to generate any real cutting edge in their first home league appearance.
Even the debut of forward Omar Marmoush failed to spark the desired offensive spark. Newcastle’s other marquee acquisition, the £75 million winger Savio, was sidelined before he could make an impact, ruled out with what was described as “muscle fatigue”.
Meanwhile, former Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali, who departed for a £100 million fee, was jeered by his old supporters as they celebrated their first league triumph under new manager Matthias Jaissle. In the opening half, Tottenham appeared the more fluid side, with Newcastle goalkeeper Lucas Horníček pulling off a series of impressive saves, notably denying Mathys Tel and Jan‑Paul van Hecke. The breakthrough, however, came midway through the second half when Elanga – a player who endured a difficult season last term but lit up the weekend with a goal against Liverpool – found space in the box, struck a powerful effort and saw it ricochet off the post, gifting Newcastle a 1‑0 lead.
De Zerbi responded by introducing three substitutes in an attempt to revive his side, but the Spurs could not muster a credible equaliser. The second goal arrived when Wissa, another player who had underperformed under former boss Eddie Howe, added to Newcastle’s misery.
A corner was flicked into the six‑yard area by substitute Nick Woltemade, and with his back to goal Wissa expertly hooked the ball over his own head and into the net, doubling the lead. Key moments of the match included: - 15′ – Horníček leapt to his left and parried a curling shot from Mathys Tel.
- 17′ – Defender Hall threw his body across the line to block a close‑range attempt by Porro. - 38′ – Van Hecke rose to meet an in‑swinging corner from Fernandes, only for Horníček to make a second fine save. - 48′ – A potential penalty was appealed after Omar Marmoush challenged Thiaw in the box, but referee Peter Bankes dismissed the claim and VAR upheld the decision.
- 62′ – Nico González delivered a long diagonal ball, which Dedic headed down for Elanga. The winger turned swiftly and his shot struck the left post before finding the back of the net. - 72′ – Wissa’s second goal came from a corner, where he again used his back‑to‑goal position to flick the ball over his own head into the net. When the final whistle blew, the Tottenham faithful were a mixture of disappointment and resignation, with many fans leaving the stadium early.
Those who stayed voiced their frustration, booing the team off the pitch. Roberto De Zerbi, speaking to Sky Sports after the defeat, offered a measured assessment: “For about an hour we played better than Newcastle. We created chances but failed to convert. Once they scored we lost the distance.
We had more shots, but we are not yet the team we aspire to be. We need to improve several aspects.
I’m not angry – we worked well, but we were unlucky with the result.” Former Spurs star Jamie Redknapp, analysing the performance on Saturday Night Football, highlighted the integration challenge: “There are a lot of new faces at Spurs and it will take time for the manager to fit the pieces together. He has a jigsaw puzzle – figuring out the system, the best midfield trio, and the roles for each player. Teething problems are inevitable.
Senior players like Van de Ven need to step up and lead, especially in front of goal.” Newcastle manager Matthias Jaissle expressed pride in his side’s execution: “It was incredible – I’m very proud. As a club and coaching staff we’re delighted to see the team follow the game plan at such a high level and the players fully committed. This is a strong start and a moment to enjoy.” Sky Sports’ David Richardson, reporting from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, noted the emergence of the two Newcastle attackers: “Elanga and Wissa finally look like the new signings they were meant to be. Their quality is showing.
Jaissle is achieving what Eddie Howe could not with the £110 million investment made last summer. He also gave Nico González his debut, and his pass unlocked the opener for Elanga. Despite the chatter about a season of struggle, the crowd sang European ambitions – perhaps tongue‑in‑cheek, but it reflects the optimism Jaissle’s fresh approach has sparked.
The side now plays with freedom and cohesion, positioning themselves as genuine contenders for European places."