All the signs were pointing to a big home win until Anthony Elanga struck for the visitors on 62 minutes. Yoane Wissa wrapped it up for the Magpies 10 minutes later.
Until the goal, we looked most likely to break the deadlock as visiting goalkeeper Lukás Hornícek denied Mathys Tel, Andy Robertson and Jan Paul van Hecke in the first half before debutant Omar Marmoush had a penalty appeal waved away at the start of the second half.
Hornícek later denied Pedro Porro and Marmoush again as we ended with 17 shots to Newcastle’s 11 – the Toon registering their match-winning goals with their two shots on target.
Speaking to SPURSPLAY afterwards, Roberto reflected: “I'm disappointed for the result. I'm sorry for the fans, for the players. Until we conceded the first goal, I think Newcastle played a good game, but I think we played better and we created more chances to score, more shots on goal.
“We could play better even before the first goal, but in the defensive space, we lost the distances, we lost the right connection with the attackers, with the defenders, but until the first goal, I can't say nothing. I think we made good actions, we had control of the game. If you analyse the numbers - more in every situation.
“After the goal we conceded, I think we lost the confidence. It's like some players maybe didn't believe to score and to win the game again, because I watched the screen and there was time.
“I have no doubt about the players, the quality of the players. I have no doubt about the final result. I think we are building a very strong, a very important team.
“The last season when I came, we were in the Championship. We stayed up for everyone, the fans, the players, the club. Now the club decided to rebuild the squad, and they made a great job, great players. I have no doubt, because I have too big confidence in the new players, in the players who stayed last season. Maybe we need time, maybe.
“At the end, these players, they will win games in a row because they are too strong, too good players.
"The most important thing is to not lose the energy, to not lose the confidence, because in football, it's not enough the transfer market, it's not enough the names on the pitch. We have to find connection, we have to find the soul, we have to find the style of play, the style of defensive space - and to find these things, we need time, more time.”