The Northern Echo

Joao Pedro struck in the 34th minute to help Chelsea inflict more pain on toothless Spurs with a fifth consecutive victory over their London rivals and a 10th win in 12 meetings in all competitions.

Frank’s team were booed off after they produced only one shot on target all game, three in total and recorded their lowest ever xG (expected goals) figure of 0.05 since Opta records started in the 2012-13 campaign.

To compound another miserable match at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with this a third home loss in seven matches under the former Brentford head coach, an eye-catching exchange occurred moments after full-time.

Spence and stand-in captain Van de Ven and headed towards the tunnel and despite Frank seemingly telling them to thank the home support, they walked past the Danish boss who stared in their direction before he turned to applaud the crowd.

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Spence headed immediately for the tunnel at full-time at Newcastle on Wednesday night after Spurs were knocked out of the Carabao Cup, only for coach to stop him and tell him to go and applaud the away fans.

After Saturday night's incident, Frank said: “I think that is one of the small issues. We have Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence who are doing everything they can. They perform very well so far this season and everyone is frustrated. We do things in a different way, so I don’t think it is a big problem.

“All the players are of course frustrated. They would like to do well, they would like to win, they would like to perform well, so I understand that.

“I think it is about, which is difficult, to be consistent in good times and in bad times. That is why I went around to the fans as I did. It is more fun when we win, I can tell you that.”

Spence has established himself in Tottenham's side this year, and Boro stand to benefit financially from the defender's breakthrough for club and country.

Spence left Boro for Tottenham in the summer of 2022 in a deal worth £20m, which included a number of add-ons.

And, as revealed by the Northern Echo last week, it's understood one of those payments will be triggered when Spence makes two competitive England starts.

The first came in this month's World Cup qualifying win over Latvia, and considering Spence looks to have impressed Thomas Tuchel, another imminent competitive start for England looks inevitable for the defender.

Spence received his first England call-up in September and made his debut from the bench in the World Cup qualifying win in Serbia.

He then got a second call-up last month and started both games in the most recent get-together. Spence was in the starting XI for the friendly win over Wales at Wembley and then kept his place and made his first competitive start as England thumped Latvia 5-0.

Boro will now no doubt have an eye on the situation when England are next in action this month with World Cup qualifying ties against Serbia and Albania. A start for Spence in either of those games would result in a financial boost for Boro.

And Boro look well placed to further benefit after Spence's big breakthrough for club and country over the course of the last year or so.

With Spence now playing regularly and Spurs having enjoyed an impressive start to the Premier League season, more add-ons look set to be triggered in the near and distant future.

Newcastle play their opening game of the new year at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday lunchtime knowing a win could take them into the top four ahead of the afternoon fixture list.

Three days later, the Magpies are back in north London for the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final against Arsenal, and having not been fazed by the challenge of heading to Old Trafford, Howe wants his players to be equally bullish about the prospect of facing two of the toughest away trips on the calendar.

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“I always say we respect the opposition, but we don't fear anybody,” said the Newcastle boss. “But then actually stepping forward and delivering the performances under pressure in the environment isn't always easy.

“So, I do think it's a big step forward (winning at Old Trafford). But we need to do it again in two other grounds, very similar, at Tottenham and Arsenal in our next two games.”

Monday’s game marked the halfway point of the Premier League programme, and after failing to really click in the opening couple of months of the campaign, Newcastle have hit top gear in the last few weeks.

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Five successive victories in all competitions has transformed the mood at St James’ Park, with the Magpies’ key players all raising their performance levels markedly in recent matches.

“I’ve really enjoyed this season, although it's been a difficult challenge at times,” said Howe. “We look good at the moment, but we have to continue our focus and not get carried away.

“I think you learn all the time. I always say that I’m forever learning week in, week out. The Premier League demands that of you. You can never stand still. The game changes from week to week.

“Things you think you've got mastery of one minute, you don't have the next and that's down to the league and the analysis involved. So, for me, it's always about hard work and processes.”