Mauricio Pochettino and Tottenham Hotspur have an itch that needs scratching and it seems that until they have a good go at it, nobody is going to be able to ease the pain the club’s desperate supporters are feeling right now.
Thomas Frank had said it would be “well deserved” if Tottenham’s fans sang the name of Pochettino, so he could hardly blame them for doing just that as his side slumped to an 11th league defeat of a miserable season against Newcastle United.
It was in the 49th minute, with Tottenham trailing by a goal, that the Spurs fans decided it was time to once again declare their love for Pochettino. They later followed it up with chants of “You’re getting sacked in the morning” at Frank.
Goals from Malick Thiaw and Jacob Ramsey heightened relegation fears, with Spurs now 16th in the table behind Leeds United and five points above third-from-bottom West Ham United.
There is no sign that Frank is the man to turn it around, even though he deserves respect for the way he has handled himself and he is right to underline an injury crisis that robbed him of 10 players ahead of kick-off against Newcastle United and saw Wilson Odobert forced off in the first half.
Pochettino, who is committed to the US national team until after the World Cup, cannot come to the rescue this season. But, even though they will have to wait until the summer, one thing is clear: Tottenham’s fans want Pochettino back and the Argentine wants another go at the club he still loves.
Pretending any differently has become pointless. Nobody can truly capture the hearts of the Spurs supporters until they have been given a chance to fall head over heels for Pochettino all over again. In the meantime, it seems fans would rather anybody but Frank is put in charge of the team until the end of the season
Vinai Venkatesham, Spurs’ chief executive, and Peter Charrington, the club’s executive chairman, were inside the stadium on Tuesday night where they were left in no doubt what the supporters want and expect. It remains to be seen, however, whether they will give the masses what they wish for.
Even before this latest catastrophe, Frank acknowledged that it would be futile to try to convince Tottenham fans and Pochettino to get over their love affair.
“I met Mauricio a few times, great guy, a great coach,” said Frank. “I think he’s a legend [here]. He was part of transforming the club, from where it was at that stage, to where it ended up being in terms of being close to winning the Premier League title.
“Getting into the Champions League final. If you are close, then you are very close to winning it. Sometimes it’s football, it’s margins. Pochettino did a top job here and is a true legend, so if the fans sing his name it’s well deserved.”
Frank was responding to Pochettino’s appearance on the High Performance Podcast, which host Jake Humphrey closed by saying: “You love Tottenham, you want to win the Premier League and Tottenham now have the facilities to win the Premier League. Let’s see what the universal energy does.”
Pochettino, who regularly references his belief in universal energy, jumped in to say: “Now we are focused on the USA, and we are going for the World Cup.” Before Humphrey added: “Return to the Premier League as World Cup winners.”
If Pochettino returns to the Premier League at anywhere other than Tottenham next season, then the Lewis family and Venkatesham will see their popularity plummet even further.
Pochettino often referenced the need to distinguish between perception and reality during his Tottenham days, but he was happy to indulge the fantasies of the club’s fans towards the end of his hour-and-a-half with Humphrey.
“To win a Europa League, that the team won, is good, but it’s not enough,” said Pochettino. “It is not enough to challenge for the Carabao Cup, or the FA Cup, or the Europa League, or the Conference [League].
“It’s a club that should be, or needs to be because the fans, what they expect is, to be in the Champions League, fighting for the Champions League, trying to believe that you can win the Champions League and also fighting for the Premier League and believing that you can win the Premier League.”
Spurs are currently closer to the Championship than challenging for the Champions League, but there are players Pochettino would no doubt relish working with such as 19-year-old Archie Gray, who briefly got his team on level terms against Newcastle.
An equaliser for Spurs and it's Archie Gray with it as he bundles home the Tottenham corner to draw them level! 💥
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 10, 2026
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Frank was asked on Monday whether he regretted setting a negative tone by telling supporters that Tottenham will lose matches in his very first press conference as head coach.
The Dane said no and claimed there has to be “a nice combo between reality and selling hope”, but it is clear that, in the eyes of the fans Pochettino is the only man capable of providing some optimism.
One former Spurs staff member told Telegraph Sport: “It’s got to the stage where Pochettino is the only coach who will be given any time with the fans. They’ve tried everything else and they want to give him another go. Until that happens, it feels like nobody has got much of a chance.”
Last March, in an interview with selected English journalists, Pochettino said: “I would like one day to come back. Not because of my ego, it’s because I would like one day to win with Tottenham.
“We were so close and it was so painful and then with Chelsea it was one year, very productive, but we spend nearly five and a half years there [at Tottenham] and we achieved to be in a Champions League [final], to fight for four years to be one of the contenders for the Premier League, when before the club was fighting for different things.”
The old adage may say “never go back”, but it seems increasingly clear that Tottenham, with Daniel Levy no longer at the helm, have little choice but to give it another whirl with Pochettino. Until then, neither party appears ready to move on and Frank appears to be fighting a losing battle to convince anybody otherwise.
Frank: I am 1,000 per cent sure I am right man for Spurs
b'
Thomas Frank claimed he is “convinced” he will remain in charge of Tottenham Hotspur, despite being subjected to chants of “You’re getting sacked in the morning” from the club’s fans.
Frank came out fighting following the defeat by Newcastle United, insisting he is not the only man to blame for the Spurs slump, underlining the club’s injury crisis and saying he is “1,000 per cent sure” he is the right man for the job.
With the club already out of the FA Cup, Tottenham face north London rivals Arsenal next. But Frank claimed to be confident that he will keep his job for that game and stressed he is not the only man to blame for the club’s slump.
Asked if his job is under threat, Frank said: “I spoke to them [the owners] yesterday, so no. I understand the frustration and the easiest thing is to point at me. That’s part of the job, unfortunately.”
On whether or not he will be in charge for the Arsenal game, Frank added: “Yeah, I’m convinced I will be. I also think it’s never only the head coach or the ownership or the directors or the players or the staff. It’s everyone. If you do something right, you build something that can last. Of course, we are not in a top position now. Everyone knows, directors, ownership, myself, what position we are in, what we need to improve and what we need to do better. That is what we are working very hard on.
“I understand the fans’ frustration. We are in a position we don’t want to be in and we are working very hard day and night to change. I also think it is a situation now the club has been in, it’s fair to say, for almost two years struggling to combine Europe and the Premier League. It’s something for me, the team, the club, the players, we need to learn to do even better physically and mentally to deal with that.
"3 points off the relegation zone... wow, it's tough times" 🤯
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 10, 2026
Les Ferdinand understands the Spurs' fans frustrations as they drop ever-closer to the relegation zone 👀
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUKpic.twitter.com/qQxcJPBWmr
“And part of that of course is the 11 injuries or 10 plus a suspension plus another one today which of course doesn’t help in a situation like that. The injuries, I think they need to be massively taken into consideration. I haven’t really said it too much, but everyone can see the impact of things.”
Frank was asked if he still believes he is the right man for Tottenham and he replied by saying: “[I am] 1,000 per cent sure. I am also 1,000 per cent sure that I never expected us to be in a situation like this with 11 or 12 injuries on the back end of this and what we’ve been facing. But I know when you need to build something and need to get through things, you need to show unbelievable strong resilience.
“I think it is fair to say there are a few before me up here, not only for Tottenham but in many other clubs, that have lost their head many times. I think you need to have a calm head, carry on, keep fighting and keep doing the right thing, make sure we stick together because we can only do this if we stick together. That is the board, that is the leaders, that is the players, that is the staff, that is me and that is the fans. We’ve got to get through this.”
Post-match thoughts of Dominic Solanke
"We don't want to be anywhere near the bottom of the table...but we know we can turn it around" 💪
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 10, 2026
Spurs striker Dom Solanke admits they're at the wrong end of the Premier League table but has faith in the squad to turn it around.
🎙️ @dannyjamieson | 📺 @tntsports &… pic.twitter.com/CBRdN0HRFq
Thomas Frank speaking to TNT Sports
“I think that the players gave everything. Newcastle were better than us overall in the first half but we came back in the second half. We are a little bit hit by injuries so it is not a full team with confidence and flow. We still though had a chance to take something from that game but we were unable to. We definitely need to understand we are not in a top position and we have to fight to get out of this. I understand the frustration of the fans and the easiest thing is to point the finger at me. That is part of the job. I will fight to turn this around. No [not worried about his future], I spoke to the board yesterday. What I do is I work hard and put a side out there that is ready to fight.”
Post-match thoughts of Eddie Howe
"We're still in there fighting" 💪
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 10, 2026
Eddie Howe was proud of his Newcastle side after their 2-1 victory away at Spurs.
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Winless run
Spurs are still yet to win a Premier League game in 2026 😲 pic.twitter.com/iyOBtvTik3
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 10, 2026
Jacob Ramsey speaking to TNT Sports
“It has been a while. I have been playing different positions and today was playing a little bit higher up. The manager is demanding I need to get my numbers up and thankfully I got my goal today.”
On his instinctive finish for his goal:
“I knew I was in the box and played a one-two with Gordy [Anthony Gordon]. It was instinctive really, left foot, nice finish.”
On his big celebration:
“It has been tough. I like to think I am a box-to-box midfielder scoring goals. Obviously my first goal today and pure emotion. Just happy with the three points.”
On his injury earlier in the season:
“I got injured in my first start, out for two months. I need to build back fitness, I was in and out the team. Feeling good, feeling fit. I want to stay in the team, keep scoring goals, keep getting assists and keep helping the team out. “
Les Ferdinand on TNT Sports
"3 points off the relegation zone... wow, it's tough times" 🤯
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 10, 2026
Les Ferdinand understands the Spurs' fans frustrations as they drop ever-closer to the relegation zone 👀
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUKpic.twitter.com/qQxcJPBWmr
Newcastle’s next five fixtures
February 14: Aston Villa vs Newcastle (FA Cup)
February 18: Qarabag vs Newcastle (Champions League)
February 21: Manchester City vs Newcastle (Premier League)
February 24: Newcastle vs Qarabag (Champions League)
February 28: Newcastle vs Everton (Premier League)
A busy few weeks ahead for Eddie Howe’s side, playing in three competitions, including their Champions League play-off tie against Qarabag.
Tottenham’s next five matches
February 22: Tottenham vs Arsenal (Premier League)
March 1: Fulham vs Tottenham (Premier League)
March 5: Tottenham vs Crystal Palace (Premier League)
March 15: Liverpool vs Tottenham (Premier League)
March 22: Tottenham vs Nottingham Forest (Premier League)
They will be in Champions League last-16 action in March. With 12 days now between today and their next game in the north London derby, will Tottenham think about a managerial change?
Tonight’s games
Chelsea 2 Leeds 2 FT
Everton 1 Bournemouth 2 FT
Tottenham 1 Newcastle 2 FT
West Ham 1 Manchester United 0 (65’)
FT stats
Possession: Tottenham 53%-47% Newcastle
Shots: 16-21
Shots on target: 2-5
Corners: 2-12
Touches in opposition box: 28-54
Full time
The final whistle is met by a plethora of boos inside the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as Newcastle clinch a 2-1 win, which they do deserve. Thiaw gave them the lead before Gray’s equaliser. However, Ramsey’s first goal for Newcastle has earned them all three points. Thomas Frank was under massive pressure going into night and that has been ramped up even more. Could this be the final straw for Frank at Tottenham? By the end of the night, they may only be three points clear of the relegation zone.
90+5 mins: Tottenham 1 Newcastle 2
Into the final 60 seconds we go, although that may be slightly extended by Guimaraes’ injury.
90+2 mins: Tottenham 1 Newcastle 2
Solanke’s overhead kick is blocked by Burn before van de Ven blazes over. Time is running out for Tottenham to find an equaliser.
90 mins: Tottenham 1 Newcastle 2
News may well be filtering through to the fans inside the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium that West Ham have just taken the lead against Manchester United. As it stands, Tottenham would be just three points above the relegation zone.
Guimaraes limps off pretty slowly and is replaced by Hall.
Six added minutes as chants of “Sacked in the morning” are sung at Thomas Frank by some inside the stadium. It may well have come the away fans.
89 mins: Tottenham 1 Newcastle 2
That is a cynical foul from Guimaraes, who is booked for that challenge of Simons, and then goes down hurt. He did look like he was struggling a few minutes ago and has now gone down.
88 mins: Tottenham 1 Newcastle 2
Eddie Howe is making a double change as Woltemade and Osula come on for Willock and Gordon. Newcastle assistant coach Jason Tindall is shown a yellow card during those substitutions.
86 mins: Tottenham 1 Newcastle 2
There have been plenty of empty seats throughout the game tonight and the number of those is increasing as some home fans have decided they have seen enough.
83 mins: Tottenham 1 Newcastle 2
Newcastle have conceded the most goals (14) in the final 15 minutes of league games this season so the travelling fans may not be feeling entirely comfortable right now.
81 mins: Tottenham 1 Newcastle 2
With Leeds fighting back to level their game at Chelsea to 2-2, Tottenham are currently set to drop to 16th, just five points above the relegation zone.
74 mins: Tottenham 1 Newcastle 2
Double change for Newcastle as J Murphy and Tonali replace Elanga and Ramsey, who scored Newcastle’s second goal tonight.
69 mins: Tottenham 1 Newcastle 2
Thomas Frank makes a change as Kolo Muani replaces Gallagher.
GOAL! Ramsey restores Newcastle’s lead
Tottenham were not level for long. Ramsey sweeps home into the far corner from Gordon’s pass into him and races off to celebrate with the travelling fans. That is Ramsey’s first goal for Newcastle so no wonder the very animated celebrations.
WHAT AN ASSIST 🤩
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 10, 2026
Amazing feet from Anthony Gordon and he puts it on a plate for Jacob Ramsey who puts Newcastle back into the lead!
Live on @tntsports & @discoveryplusUKpic.twitter.com/owdBl5VWID
67 mins: Tottenham 1 Newcastle 1
Van de Ven pulls off a crucial block to deny Barnes inside the Tottenham penalty area before the hosts counter. Simons goes down, wanting a free-kick but it was a blatant dive and Anthony Taylor correctly books the Dutchman. A second yellow card for diving for Tottenham tonight after Sarr’s in the first half.
66 mins: Tottenham 1 Newcastle 1
Eddie Howe will be so disappointed with his team; they were dominant for the first 50 minutes but did not properly take advantage of that dominance.
GOAL! Gray equalises for Tottenham
For 50 minutes, they were woeful but the home side are on level terms. It comes from their first corner of the game, which goes to the back post. Sarr heads it back across goal, where Graay volleys home from inside the six-yard box. Pope claimed he was impeded but the goal is given.
An equaliser for Spurs and it's Archie Gray with it as he bundles home the Tottenham corner to draw them level! 💥
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 10, 2026
Live on @tntsports & @discoveryplusUKpic.twitter.com/Pa6L1vdkvV
62 mins: Tottenham 0 Newcastle 1
Two bookings come in quick succession as Spence goes into the book for a poor challenge on Elanga.
59 mins: Tottenham 0 Newcastle 1
If the scores here and at the London Stadium stay the same, Tottenham would be just five points above the relegation zone.
Back on the pitch, Burn is booked for a rash challenge on Gallagher and there were not many protestations.
56 mins: Tottenham 0 Newcastle 1
You can just sense that the momentum is beginning to turn in Tottenham’s favour. Despite a pretty abject first 50 minutes from the hosts, they are just one goal behind.
53 mins: Tottenham 0 Newcastle 1
Tottenham have barely threatened the Newcastle goal but that was a chance for Tel. Gray drives down the right, all the way into the Newcastle box, and puts the ball across the box into the path of Tel but the Frenchman is on the stretch and cannot keep his effort on target, with his shot looping into the crowd.
50 mins: Tottenham 0 Newcastle 1
Tottenham are on the ropes here as Newcastle press for a second. There is another penalty shout from Newcastle as Willock goes down under a challenge from Simons. The Dutchman does kick the back of Willock’s boot and got none of the ball. Simons can count himself a little fortunate that a penalty was not given there.
48 mins: Tottenham 0 Newcastle 1
It has been a fairly chaotic start to this second half in the driving rain of north London. VAR did check that incident between Spence and Elanga but does not intervene. It was very similar to the incident in the first half, where Thiaw slightly nudged Solanke in the back.
47 mins: Tottenham 0 Newcastle 1
Thomas Frank will have wanted to have seen his side come out with a bang after the break in response to the first half but Newcastle have started where they left off. Tottenham are looking nervy again.
Newcastle want a penalty as Elanga goes down under a challenge from Spence. What will VAR make of that?
Second half
We are back under way in north London. How will Tottenham respond to a pretty poor first half? They will probably be relieved they are not more than one goal behind and they did come from 2-0 down after a similarly poor first-half performance against Manchester City to draw 2-2 recently.
Thomas Frank has made a change at the break and it comes in the centre of midfield as Palhinha replaces Bissouma.
Willock, despite looking like he might have picked up an injury before the break, has come back out for the second half.
HT verdict
b'
Newcastle deserve the lead at half time but has Joe Willock injured himself doing a knee slide celebrating a goal ruled out for offside?
As for the offside, to the naked eye the still image used to say it was offside looked onside to me. Maybe my ageing eyes are playing tricks on me!
Tonight’s games
Chelsea 1 Leeds 0 HT
Everton 1 Bournemouth 0 HT
Tottenham 0 Newcastle 1 HT
West Ham 0 Manchester United 0 (16’)
HT stats
Possession: Tottenham 44%-56% Newcastle
Shots: 4-11
Shots on target: 0-4
Corners: 0-9
Touches in opposition box: 11-27
Half-time
That is it for the first half and Newcastle lead 1-0 at the break courtesy of that late goal from Thiaw. They were inches away as well from scoring another goal as well but Willock’s effort not long before Thiaw’s goal was ruled out. Plenty of boos from the home fans at the half-time whistle.
Boos echo round the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as the half time whistle goes 👀
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 10, 2026
Live on @tntsports & @discoveryplusUKpic.twitter.com/WXb2VPB2DW
GOAL! Thiaw puts Newcastle in front
The visitors were denied moments ago but they are not to be denied this time. Deep into added time in this first half, Willock sends in a cross from the right to the back post, where Thiaw heads towards goal. Vicario makes a smart save on his own line down to his right but Thiaw is the quickest to react, putting the rebound into the back of the net. Thiaw was the hungriest to get to it first after the save and he is rewarded.
Newcastle are not to be denied, and it's Malick Thiaw who gives them the lead! 💥
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 10, 2026
Vicario keeps out his 1st header, but can't do anything to stop the rebound, and the Magpies go 1-0 up!
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45+3 mins: Tottenham 0 Newcastle 0
The home fans are getting very restless about their side passing backwards and not looking to move the ball up the pitch with any sort of intensity.
45 mins: Tottenham 0 Newcastle 0
We are into five added minutes, due to Odobert’s injury, and that may be extended due to that VAR review.
NO GOAL! Willock’s effort ruled out
It was incredibly close but Willock is adjudged to have been just offside. It always looked close in real time but it did feel like he would be just onside. However, that is not the case and the game stays at 0-0. It was Willock’s head which put him in an offside position. Talk about fine margins!
Newcastle think they've taken the lead, but VAR thinks otherwise 👀
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 10, 2026
Joe Willock finished off the incisive counter attack, but it seems he mistimed his run by a millisecond, and Spurs are saved...
Live on @tntsports & @discoveryplusUKpic.twitter.com/Sd74aiK0y3
GOAL! Willock puts Newcastle in front
That has been coming for the visitors and they deserve to take the lead just before half-time. The move originates from a lovely first-time pass from Guimaraes into Ramsey, who feeds a through ball into the path of Willock, who had made the run forward. It initially looked like Willock was taking too long and had allowed van de Ven to get back but Willock cuts inside and then picks out the far corner. VAR is going to take a look at whether Willock was offside when he made the initial run forward. Was he ahead of van de Ven or not? This is very close...
42 mins: Tottenham 0 Newcastle 0
Referee Anthony Taylor is spot on there. The Tottenham players and fans thought that Sarr was going to be awarded a free-kick but instead Sarr is shown a yellow card for diving. As the replays prove, the referee was absolutely right to book Sarr as it was a clear dive.
40 mins: Tottenham 0 Newcastle 0
Newcastle have got into some dangerous positions but have lacked a clinical and cutting edge with the final pass, decision or shot. They really should be in front but the game remains level.
35 mins: Tottenham 0 Newcastle 0
b'Newcastle have played really well but haven’t turned pressure into goals. It’s been a familiar failing this season.
34 mins: Tottenham 0 Newcastle 0
Odobert has received some treatment to his leg for a few minutes now and it appears his race is down tonight. Tel is ready to come on to replace his compatriot. Odobert did walk off but has gone straight down the tunnel.
31 mins: Tottenham 0 Newcastle 0
Play is halted as Odobert has gone down in some pain. Thomas Frank will be worried about this being another injury to add to the likes of Kulusevski, Maddison, Kudus and Richarlison.
29 mins: Tottenham 0 Newcastle 0
Newcastle are now up to eight corners. Elanga’s delivery is headed to the edge of the box, where Ramsey takes a touch before powerfully shooting. There is a deflection and the visitors will have another corner.
There is a bit of a mad scramble inside the Tottenham box but Gordon’s header goes wide. Eddie Howe will be disappointed that his side have not taken the lead considering their dominance in this first half.
26 mins: Tottenham 0 Newcastle 0
It is pretty subdued inside the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with most of the positive energy coming from the travelling Newcastle fans. Most of the noise coming from the home fans are groans.
22 mins: Tottenham 0 Newcastle 0
Solanke goes down inside the Newcastle box under a challenge from Thiaw wanting a penalty but referee Anthony Taylor waves the appeals away. VAR does take a look at a nudge in the back from Thiaw but the on-field decision of no penalty stands.
19 mins: Tottenham 0 Newcastle 0
Dragusin has now nearly scored two own goals in this first half as Vicario is forced to punch away after his centre-back sliced an attempted clearance towards his own goal. There is plenty of anxiety and frustration amongst the home fans.
17 mins: Tottenham 0 Newcastle 0
Newcastle are definitely in the ascendancy right now and have another corner as Ramsey’s shot deflects behind off van de Ven.
The visitors are now up to six corners with the hosts under the pump right now.
14 mins: Tottenham 0 Newcastle 0
Newcastle have made a confident start to this game, in a similar fashion to when they played away at Liverpool around 10 days ago. They started well in the first half of that match, taking a 1-0 lead, before Liverpool dominated from around 35 minutes onwards in that game to win 4-1. That night they also lined up with the same front three as they do tonight, with bags of pace up top.
10 mins: Tottenham 0 Newcastle 0
Elanga drives the ball across the floor into the box and Barnes attempts a clever flick from behind him but there is not enough power on it to trouble Vicario.
8 mins: Tottenham 0 Newcastle 0
Newcastle are inches away from taking the lead. Space opens up for Willock to drive towards the box and get his shot away. The effort looks like it might nestle into the far corner but it goes just wide, perhaps kissing the outside of the post.
7 mins: Tottenham 0 Newcastle 0
The TV cameras have panned to the stands, where Tottenham captain Romero is sat with Maddison. Whilst the latter is still out with a long-term injury, Romero is suspended again this season after a red card on the weekend. How many games as the Spurs captain missed this season alone due to suspension?
Simons has an effort from the left side of the box from a narrow angle but drags the shot into the side netting.
3 mins: Tottenham 0 Newcastle 0
The first corner of the night goes the way of the visitors as Bissouma heads behind a decent cross from Elanga out on the right touchline.
Elanga takes the corner he won and puts it into a dangerous area. The ball comes off Dragusin, who does not know much about it, and the ball loops just over his own bar.
Tottenham head the corner away but Newcastle keep it alive. Elanga clips the ball back into the box, with Solanke attempting to clear, but the ball ends up with Botman at the far post but the Dutchman’s header goes just over.
Early pressure on the home side.
How has that missed?! 🤯
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 10, 2026
Great delivery from Elanga and it's turned towards his own goal by Drăgușin but flies just over the bar.
Live on @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK! pic.twitter.com/F9HMUO7IJM
Kick-off
We are under way at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Both teams and both managers are in desperate need of a win so who will come out on top tonight?
b'There are either a lot of late comers or a lot of empty seats at Tottenham tonight. The Newcastle end is full, but there are a lot of gaps in home areas. You wouldn’t know it is such a big game for Spurs from looking around the stadium.
Nearly ready for action
Both sides emerge from the tunnel and we are just moments away from kick-off. Here is a reminder of the teams:
Tottenham: Vicario, Gray, Dragusin, van de Ven, Spence, Sarr, Bissouma, Gallagher, Odobert, Solanke, Simons.
Substitutes: Kinsky, Palhinha, Tel, Souza, Kolo Muani, Oluesi, Byfield, Williams Barnett, Rowswell.
Newcastle: Pope, Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, Burn, Guimaraes, Ramsey, Willock, Elanga, Gordon, Barnes.
Substitutes: Ramsdale, Hall, Tonali, Wissa, Osula, J.Murphy, Woltemade, A.Murphy, Shahar.
Pre-match thoughts of Eddie Howe
"I wanna see an enthusiasm and a desire to do well" 💪
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 10, 2026
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe looks ahead and discusses his team selection ahead of kick off at Spurs.
🎙️ @dannyjamieson | 📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUKpic.twitter.com/XidFYuY70H
Awful weather!
b'The pre-match entertainment inside the Tottenham Hotspur has included a home team-inspired quiz. I think Thomas Frank and Spurs sporting director Johan Lange would make a strong quiz team - good on Abba and Scandinavian noir. The weather inside the Tottenham Hotspur stadium is so bad that even Jason Tindall looks a bit pasty in the rain.
What about Tonali’s future?
b'
There has been a lot of noise around Sandro Tonali this season and increasing speculation about a future away from Newcastle United but the Italy international has not been dropped because of that.
Tonali is not starting against Tottenham because he has looked out of form for months and in need of a rest. Others have attracted more criticism, but the drop off in performance levels from Tonali, compared to last season, has been dramatic.
It is still a brave call from manager Eddie Howe to leave him out, just as it is to pick Anthony Gordon at centre forward rather than either of his expensive summer signings Yoane Wissa and Nick Woltemade.
Wissa does not look fit and Woltemade looks like a bad fit but Gordon is still a winger not a centre forward.
But Tonali has not been playing well and Newcastle’s midfield has been far too easy to play through recently. It will, of course, lead to more suggestions that the former AC Milan star does not want to be on Tyneside much longer.
Newcastle, though, are surprisingly relaxed about all the transfer talk about the midfielder, who was supposedly offered to Arsenal in January and who has since been linked with a summer move to Manchester City, Manchester United and Juventus.
The player’s agent has publicly cranked up the pressure by hinting the 25-year-old would be interested in a move if Newcastle do not qualify for the Champions League. It has felt like a summer transfer saga has been well signposted.
Yet, the main power brokers at St James’ Park have shrugged it all off, almost dismissively, in private. They have pointed out that the player has not told anyone at Newcastle that he would like a move and, in fact, stressed to both sporting director Ross Wilson and Howe last week that he is extremely happy at the club.
It has also been pointed out that if Tonali wants a big money move in the summer - he is effectively under contract until 2030 - he needs to be playing a lot better than he is at the moment for anyone to be willing to make a bid that could tempt Newcastle to sell a player who cost them £55m in 2023.
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Jason Burt: Howe needs to change
Something needs to change at Newcastle United. That change is not a new manager. But it is the current manager changing his tactics to allow Newcastle to play more like a big team.
Following Saturday’s 3-2 home defeat by Brentford, there was an emotional response from Eddie Howe. The 48-year-old is an emotional character, which some at the club might find ironic given he is also regarded as sometimes being aloof.
But Howe did publicly question himself. On Monday, ahead of the crucial Premier League fixture away to Tottenham Hotspur, he clarified he still felt he was the right man for the job, but there was also the kicker that he would quit if he no longer believed that.
Newcastle’s last five results
Newcastle 2 Brentford 3 (Premier League)
Manchester City 3 Newcastle 1 (League Cup)
Liverpool 4 Newcastle 1 (Premier League)
PSG 1 Newcastle 1 (Champions League)
Newcastle 0 Aston Villa 2 (Premier League)
Tottenham’s last five results
Manchester United 2 Tottenham 0 (Premier League)
Tottenham 2 Manchester City 2 (Premier League)
Eintracht Frankfurt 0 Tottenham 2 (Champions League)
Burnley 2 Tottenham 2 (Premier League)
Tottenham 2 Borussia Dortmund 0 (Champions League)
Hosts arriving
Back home 🏡 pic.twitter.com/SSFC0VURFy
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) February 10, 2026
Teams in full
Tottenham: Vicario, Gray, Dragusin, van de Ven, Spence, Sarr, Bissouma, Gallagher, Odobert, Solanke, Simons.
Substitutes: Kinsky, Palhinha, Tel, Souza, Kolo Muani, Oluesi, Byfield, Williams Barnett, Rowswell.
Newcastle: Pope, Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, Burn, Guimaraes, Ramsey, Willock, Elanga, Gordon, Barnes.
Substitutes: Ramsdale, Hall, Tonali, Wissa, Osula, J.Murphy, Woltemade, A.Murphy, Shahar.
Frank does not want to mention the R-word, but Spurs may have to face up to it soon
Perhaps it is not surprising that Tottenham Hotspur players are not thought to have salary-reduction clauses in their contracts in the event of relegation, given the club have only had to seriously consider the prospect of going down once in the Premier League era.
Thomas Frank, the head coach, did not want to mention the R-words – Romero or relegation – on Monday, but the threat of dropping into the Championship is something that Spurs may have to front up to if they lose to Newcastle United on Tuesday.
Tottenham do not comment or guide on the specifics of player contracts, but ex-staff members who worked at the club during Daniel Levy’s era as chairman told Telegraph Sport that salary reduction relegation clauses were not inserted into contracts during their time at Spurs.
Howe admits: I will leave Newcastle if I feel I am not the right man
Eddie Howe has declared he would step down as Newcastle United manager if he did not feel able to take the club in the right direction.
After a weekend of reflection following a chastening home defeat by Brentford, Howe said he would not outstay his welcome.
“The club is always number one, and from my perspective I will always act in the best interests of the club,” Howe said. “I’ve got to think, am I the right person to do the job? Am I giving value and am I helping the players? Am I the right person to get results ultimately?
“As long as I feel that in my heart and in my spirit, [that] my desire and my motivations levels are as high as they have ever been… that’s the key question I always have to ask myself. Am I the right person to take the club and the team forward? It’s a feeling that you have and as long as that feeling remains inside of me I will fight every day, with the maximum I have, to bring success to the club.
This round of Premier League games
Tonight:
Chelsea vs Leeds
Everton vs Bournemouth
Tottenham vs Newcastle
West Ham vs Manchester United
Wednesday:
Aston Villa vs Brighton
Crystal Palace vs Burnley
Manchester City vs Fulham
Nottingham Forest vs Wolves
Sunderland vs Liverpool
Thursday:
Brentford vs Arsenal
Newcastle team
How we line-up at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this evening 💪 pic.twitter.com/gatlQw67nX
— Newcastle United (@NUFC) February 10, 2026
Tottenham team
Our team to take on Newcastle 👊
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) February 10, 2026
🔢 @krakenfxpic.twitter.com/ZCYhZxhx6F
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Two managers under big pressure?
We are treated to a midweek round of Premier League football and we are in north London as Tottenham host Newcastle at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. When these sides met at St James’ Park back in early December, the game ended in a 2-2 draw after a dramatic conclusion. That game was goalless through 70 minutes but then sprung into life. Newcastle led twice but Cristian Romero’s 95th-minute equaliser earned Tottenham a point. Tottenham do not have a good recent record against Tottenham; they have lost five of their last seven Premier League games against Newcastle.
Tottenham fell to a 2-0 defeat at Manchester United on the weekend, with their cause not helped by a first-half red card for their captain Romero. That loss means that Thomas Frank’s side are still yet to register a league win in 2026, with their last Premier League victory coming at Crystal Palace at the tail end of December. Tottenham start the day down in 14th, just six points above the relegation zone.
“There is no doubt we are desperate to win games, desperate,” Frank said. “And I am focusing on Newcastle. That is a great opportunity ahead of us against a good team. That is the main thing. Can we go out there and get three points? That will be very good and then climb from there. Look forward, that is what we need to do. That is the main focus.”
Tottenham will be without defenders Kevin Danso and Destiny Udogie due to injury whilst Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison remain long-term absentees.
Newcastle lost at home to Brentford last time out, which leaves them down in 12th, 11 points off the top four. They have just one win in their last eight, which has ramped up the pressure on Eddie Howe.
“I will do better. It is part of the evolution,” Howe said. “These challenging moments are when you grow the most. I am looking forward to that. The club is always number one. I have got to think I’m the right person to get results, and give value. As long as I feel that in my heart and spirit, my desire and passion for the job will always be there. That is why I am sitting here now, if I did not think that I would not be. I will fight every day to the maximum for success for this club. When you do not win it is an easy criticism to make, to accuse the players of [a lack of effort]. I see the players every day. The squad is strong in terms of psychology, if there are suggestions that people feel we did not leave everything on the pitch, we have to take that on the chin and address that in the next game.”
Lewis Miley and Anthony Gordon are doubts for tonight’s game whilst Joelinton is ruled out.
Team news to follow shortly.