Tottenham were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by a superior Newcastle United side at St. James' Park on Wednesday night, and pundit Jamie O'Hara was quick to point out one player during the 90.
Newcastle 2-0 Tottenham
Spurs fell behind with 24 minutes gone when Fabian Schar met Sandro Tonali’s corner – which was delayed by Djed Spence re-tying his bootlaces – with a firm downward header, prompting ultimately-futile protests from the visitors that the defender had not been allowed to get back into position.
Thomas Frank's side might have been level through their most fluent attack of the half 13 minutes before the break when Brennan Johnson headed the ball into the path of the unmarked Lucas Bergvall, but his cross fell behind Richarlison and the midfielder only just failed to reach Johnson’s driven ball at the far post two minutes later.
Aaron Ramsdale fielded Kevin Danso’s speculative effort and Richarlison’s header, but in the meantime, Harvey Barnes had fired against the crossbar after Thiaw had played a Tonali cross back across goal and his side headed in at the break with the slimmest of advantages.
Joe Willock should have extended Newcastle’s lead within two minutes of the restart, only to mistime and misdirect his header from Barnes’ cross, but he soon made amends after Malick Thiaw picked off Danso’s ball forward.
Willock crossed for Nick Woltemade to head past Spurs goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky, who was stuck in two minds coming out to parry, with the Magpies doubling their advantage.
As Spurs pushed men forward in the search of a foothold, the hosts prospered on the counter, but they needed a superb one-handed save from Aaron Ramsdale to keep out Pape Sarr’s curling attempt on the hour and another to repel Richarlison’s clever flick from a Pedro Porro cross.
However, there was no way back for Frank’s men in the end, as Spurs went back down south with nothing to show for their efforts.
Jamie O'Hara slams "non league" Antonin Kinsky for Tottenham goalkeeping
Given what was a questionable bit of goalkeeping at best from Kinsky, with the Czech ace at fault for being in no mans land for Woltemade's goal, O'Hara was among the many critics to take aim on social media.
This moment sealed Tottenham's fate as Frank's side went crashing out of the cup, and there is a serious case to be made that Kinsky's fatal error of judgement cost the Lilywhites a place in the quarter-finals.
O'Hara, taking to X, blasted the 22-year-old's "non league" goalkeeping standards right after Woltemade's first and Newcastle's second of the game.
There have been doubts surrounding number one Guglielmo VIcario's ability to command his area this season, but the Italian's exceptional shot-stopping against Monaco and Everton all but seals his place as Frank's first choice keeper for now.
Going by his display against Newcastle, the young Kinsky could still have some way to go, though it is important to remember that the ex-Slavia Prague sensation is still in his infancy when it comes to goalkeeping years.