Daily Express

Tottenham have reportedly made a decision on Thomas Frank's future after a humbling 3-0 defeat away to Nottingham Forest. Spurs are languishing in the bottom half of the table, after Frank took over from Ange Postecoglou in the summer. They had been on the back of a three-match unbeaten run before losing at the City Ground but pressure continues to intensify on the Danish coach.

Spurs have lost as many league games as they have won this season and complaints have grown inside the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with sections of the crowd unhappy with Frank's style of play. Next up for Spurs is a resurgent Liverpool side before travelling to London rivals Crystal Palace.

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And the BBC claim that Spurs have no immediate plans to sack Frank and there will not be a knee-jerk reaction to defeat by Sean Dyche's Forest side.

The inside feeling is that there had been signs of improvement in recent weeks and the loss is unlikely to prompt a change of plan from the club's hierarchy.

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However, there is not universal backing for Frank within Spurs. He had faced increased internal scrutiny following defeat to Fulham on November 29, which ensured that they had claimed just won win from eight matches.

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But there has not been any serious consideration to sacking Frank, with the club acknowledging that there will be setbacks in their long-term plan under the former Brentford boss.

CEO Vinai Venkatesham, who left Arsenal for Spurs, opted to keep the faith with Mikel Arteta when he was struggling during the early stages of his tenure in north London.

And Frank believes that he, too, will be afforded time to succeed at the club. "I can't see why not," the head coach about the prospect of senior figures backing him.

"I think it's pretty evident that if no one gets the time, no one can turn this around. This is not a quick fix.

"I do everything to control my emotions, which is a hurricane inside me, because, of course, it's deeply frustrating that we are not doing better today after three good performances.

"I think it is extremely important to be calm and measured and of course, have very, very direct and clear messages at the right time, so they're not in doubt of what I think.

"I'm very honest about where we are as well. I was also very honest, today was a very bad performance, no two ways about that.

"But I also know that to change this will take some time. No one will want to hear about that. It's just reality.

"I think the ones who have followed the club and the team, I think it's fair to say there's been a few not too consistent performances and that's the thing. We are working very hard."

With a match against Liverpool up next, followed by a daunting visit to Crystal Palace to conclude their 2025 fixtures, the question arises: can Frank weather the storm of fan discontent and internal squad issues through the long, cold winter?

Our panel weigh in on whether Tottenham should dismiss their second manager in six months and admit their error before it's too late...

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John Cross

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Tottenham must afford Thomas Frank more time. It would be a grave mistake to make a hasty decision before Christmas, denying a new manager the chance to rectify the situation.

Spurs currently sit on 22 points after 16 games, which is only one point less than they had at this stage under former boss Ange Postecoglou.

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However, the real concern lies in the style of football, a lack of entertainment and identity. That being said, these are precisely the elements that a new manager needs time to instil.

It was never going to be an instant triumph.

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Frank took over a team that had clinched the Europa League but performed poorly for most of the previous season. I initially thought the squad was stronger than it actually is.

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They urgently need another transfer window.

The team lacks quality, character and determination. The feeble capitulation at Nottingham Forest was deeply concerning.

Yet, they are only four points away from fifth place!

But who else is available to do a better job?

Managers require time. Mikel Arteta endured a much tougher spell at Arsenal.

Even Manchester United have been patient with Ruben Amorim.

Indeed, Tottenham must improve. However, it would be a serious mistake for Tottenham to make yet another change so early into Frank's tenure.

Andy Dunn

This is how major clubs operate nowadays. This is how elite football organisations function.

They maintain their class. They trust their judgement.

Patience has become the new impulsive reaction. The hire-and-fire approach is outdated.

Tottenham Hotspur is a sleeping giant that has been dormant for years, and waking it up will be a lengthy process. The notion of sacking Thomas Frank just ten wins into his tenure is utterly absurd.

After securing a decent point at Newcastle United, Spurs defeated Brentford by two goals and Slavia Prague by three before delivering a disappointing performance at the City Ground.

How could such form possibly warrant dismissal?

Spurs sit higher than Eddie Howe's side in the Premier League standings.

At the very least, they're guaranteed a spot in the Champions League play-off stage. Admittedly, their display at Nottingham Forest was woeful.

Admittedly, consistency has eluded them.

However, counting the European Super Cup, Frank has overseen 25 Spurs matches and suffered defeat in just eight. Sacking him would be utterly absurd.

Neil McLeman

Tottenham's points tally this campaign trails their record after 16 fixtures under Ange Postecoglou last term. Their performance at Forest on Sunday was appallingly poor.

Yet the North London outfit cannot persist with constant managerial upheaval - and Frank is an established, albeit somewhat limited, Premier League manager who attracted interest from both Chelsea and Manchester United last year. Who could deliver superior results at this moment?

This campaign ought to have brought relative consistency under Frank following their 17th-place finish last term but Europa League triumph under Big Ange. Yet victory over his previous employers Brentford represents their sole impressive result since October.

Following the Forest loss, Frank acknowledged there's no "quick fix" and this represents a fairly mediocre squad assembled at considerable cost. Remove injured stars Dejan Kulesevski, Dominic Solanke, James Maddison and Destiny Udogie and the team becomes even more lacklustre.

Securing a top six or seven position - and European qualification next term - ought to be this season's target. Should that prove unattainable, the blame cannot rest solely with Frank.

Nathan Ridley

This scenario feels somewhat familiar, doesn't it?

A promising manager exceeds expectations in the Premier League, secures a coveted move to a larger club, and then everything unravels.

With Thomas Frank at Tottenham, the red flags appear to be emerging. Whilst Spurs are performing admirably in European competition, their domestic league form has been disappointing, and an early Carabao Cup exit, coupled with a challenging FA Cup fixture on the horizon, suggests trouble ahead.

However, I believe perseverance is key. This is a manager who has operated at the progressive Brentford, possesses a proven ability to develop players and can construct a defensively sound unit - precisely what Tottenham were missing under Ange Postecoglou.

Naturally, Frank must extract greater output from Spurs' attacking talent, but the anticipated returns of Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison will undoubtedly bolster creativity. Tottenham have experimented with various managerial profiles, so maintaining the current path seems prudent for now.

Conor Mummery

Following Sunday's disappointing 3-0 loss at Nottingham Forest, Thomas Frank remarked: "If no-one gets the time, no-one can turn it around. This is not a quick fix."

Whilst this may hold merit, and many have highlighted how the likes of Jurgen Klopp and Mikel Arteta both endured difficult beginnings at Liverpool and Arsenal respectively before being afforded the time and resources to instigate change, there has been absolutely no evidence suggesting Frank possesses the capability for the transformative impact witnessed in either instance. Tottenham's recent form has been less than impressive, with only four victories in their last 14 matches across all competitions.

The performances have not indicated a likely turnaround in results anytime soon. Frank was primarily brought in to shore up a porous defence, but Spurs have conceded 16 goals in their last five away fixtures and have been equally ineffective in attack.

The last time Tottenham had such a low points tally at this stage of the season was back in 2008/09, under Juande Ramos, when they accumulated just two points from their first eight games. The club swiftly replaced the Spanish manager with Harry Redknapp in October, and they need to act with similar decisiveness now if they hope to salvage this season.

Ben Husband

Thomas Frank is undoubtedly a competent manager, as evidenced by his remarkable work with Brentford. However, he seems to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, and it would be best for both parties to acknowledge this reality.

Managing Brentford in the Premier League is a vastly different task compared to doing so at Tottenham - and thus far, Frank has been found wanting.

While it's true that they are missing two of their most creative players in Maddison and Kulusevski, their absence alone cannot account for the lacklustre performances under their beleaguered boss. According to Opta, Spurs' average xG stands at a mere 0.96 per game, ranking them 17th worst in the division and marking their lowest since the statistic began being recorded in the 2012/13 season.

This situation bears an uncanny resemblance to Nuno Espirito Santo's stint in North London - a competent manager, but not the right match. Spurs acknowledged their error just four months into his tenure, which concluded with a dismal run of form strikingly similar to their current predicament.

Frank is likely to find success elsewhere, but that shouldn't deter Spurs from taking swift action and making necessary changes sooner rather than later.

Manor Solomon reportedly has the option to cut short his loan spell at Villarreal and return to Tottenham Hotspur during the winter transfer window. According to El Periodico Mediterraneo, a clause in the deal will enable him to "unilaterally terminate" the loan arrangement in January.

Solomon has had a limited role with Villarreal, most recently appearing only as a substitute and operating from the bench. The 26-year-old has registered one goal and four assists across all competitions, but the shortage of playing time has become a concern for him and his representatives.

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Consequently, they have not entirely dismissed the prospect of the player departing in January, which would result in his return to Tottenham. The forward could create complications for the north London outfit, presenting a dilemma for Frank and the hierarchy regarding their subsequent actions.

It seems unlikely that Solomon would have a significant future in the first team, given the current options available in the wide positions. Consequently, another departure in January appears most probable, although it remains unclear whether this would be a loan arrangement or a permanent sale.

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It has been a frustrating campaign thus far for the winger, who was coming off a successful loan stint with Leeds United last season. Whilst it appeared they were keen on a reunion during the summer, that transfer never materialised again, and it remains unclear whether they could rekindle that interest should another switch become available.

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For the moment, they will be reviewing how the Villarreal transfer unfolded, with a last-minute deadline-day move making the switch a reality. Speaking in September, Solomon said to Sports Walla: "I kept saying that my goal was to stay in England. "I was supposed to stay. I was already close to Crystal Palace, but if I'm going to an amazing place like Villarreal, which plays in the Spanish league, which is the second best, a strong team, I'm very happy."

Solomon now faces a choice about his future, considering the minimal playing time he has received so far. Nevertheless, it remains uncertain whether he will opt to stay at Villarreal with the restricted chances, or if he gambles on a return to Tottenham without any assurance of another transfer in the coming month.

For Frank and the management, it presents an additional challenge on top of the escalating issues they are encountering on the pitch, as they strive to restore some semblance of order.

Gary Lineker has expressed sympathy for Alan Shearer following a chaotic Match of the Day broadcast on Saturday night. Shearer appeared on the programme that Lineker formerly hosted, serving as a pundit alongside Danny Murphy, and that pair had to navigate numerous alterations to the running order owing to late drama in Arsenal's thrilling 2-1 victory against rock-bottom Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The Gunners took the lead midway through the second half when a Bukayo Saka corner deflected off the post and rebounded into the goal via Wolves 'keeper Sam Johnstone. Substitute centre-forward, Tolu Arokodare, then nodded home a 90th-minute leveller for the away side. Arsenal, however, regained their advantage four minutes afterwards when Yerson Mosquera headed another delivery from Saka beyond his own goalkeeper.

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Setting up Shearer to discuss those events, Lineker began Monday's instalment of the Rest is Football podcast by remarking: "Alan, I saw you doing Match of the Day last night, just the four games, but there's plenty to talk about." Shearer replied: "Yeah, did Match of the Day yesterday with Danny Murphy.

"With five minutes to go on that late game, Arsenal were last on Match of the Day in the running order. We were on at 10.20, and then at 10 o'clock it was frantic because the goals had gone in and they'd won. For one minute, they were leading, and top [of the running order], and the analysis was like; 'Oh my God', because there was hardly any analysis because it was last, we didn't have to do a lot.

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"Then, all of a sudden, it was shoved right up the running order, and we were scrambling around to get some analysis. Danny had some crossing analysis where they got 30 crosses in or something like that. So he very kindly gave me that because I really wasn't doing any analysis on that game, because that was going to be Danny's.

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"But, because then the running order changed so much like that, they were on second, and he was doing the Liverpool game, so he was then thinking, well, he can't do Liverpool and then Arsenal, so it was bonkers! Yeah, bonkers day at Match of the Day."

Saturday evening's programme was presented by Mark Chapman and, responding to Shearer's remarks, Lineker commented: "Yeah, I know what that's like. Those late kick-offs on Saturdays, because they're often a big game, and you think maybe it'll lead the show.

"And then you're thinking; 'Actually, it quite suits us if it's a bit boring, editorially, because it gives you time to do a proper edit of the game'. It's a bit like one of those midweek ones, where it's mental."

Micah Richards then enquired who was editing the programme. Lineker and Shearer both responded by saying Rich, referring to Richard Hughes, with the former describing the editor as 'safe hands'.

Shearer wrapped up by saying: "Then we like the [Enzo] Maresca bits, as well, where Maresca came out in his press conference and came out with this cryptic clue, which we had to go big into that, as well. So, yeah, there was loads to talk about, even though there was only four games."

Tottenham supporters have flooded social media calling for Thomas Frank's dismissal following their Premier League loss to Nottingham Forest. Callum Hudson-Odoi opened the scoring in the first half before doubling Forest's advantage shortly after the interval.

Ibrahim Sangare put the result beyond doubt with a stunning long-range strike 11 minutes from time. The loss sees Spurs languishing in 11th position in the Premier League standings with 22 points from 16 fixtures.

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The result has intensified the scrutiny on Frank despite back-to-back victories in their previous two matches. It means that Spurs have lost the same number of games as they have won in the Premier League this season.

Relations between Frank and the fanbase since his appointment in the summer have become increasingly strained. He publicly criticised supporters for jeering goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario following his error in the defeat against Fulham last month.

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The Forest match also witnessed what seemed to be a reaction from Djed Spence, who appeared unhappy at being withdrawn from the game.

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With anger mounting, several supporters vented their displeasure towards the manager on X (formerly Twitter). One posted: "I'm done with Thomas Frank football now. Sack him tonight.

"Sack Thomas Frank I'm not joking sack that coward now!!!" a second posted.

A third posted: "Playing how Thomas Frank wants us to play is only ever going to be mid-table at best. He has to go."

Another supporter said: "I'm not one for keeping changing the manager, but I feel that after today, Thomas Frank is out of his depth here. I can't understand his tactics. I don't understand his substitutions. I can't see how it's not getting more out of this squad. He lost me today. #FrankOut."

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However, it wasn't just fans who were concerned by Tottenham's performance against Forest. Sky Sports pundit Andy Reid was damning in his verdict, saying: "It was a worrying performance from Spurs.

"There were just starting to be some signs of a recovery with Thomas Frank looking like he was starting to impress himself on the club and this team. But they have turned in a performance like this where they haven't got going and not shown any desire. The body language didn't look good at all.

"Nottingham Forest have ran over the top of them and played better than them in every area of the game. Man for man, they were fitter and they have been better all over the pitch. Spurs got what they deserved from the game, which was nothing."

Despite the pressure mounting on Frank, there doesn't appear to be any immediate threat to his position. Earlier this month, the manager expressed his confidence that he would be given time by the club's hierarchy.

"I'm very confident. I think the ownership - of course I'm just starting to know them - but it seems like they're good guys, intelligent people," he said. "They know how to run businesses and learning about football, learning more now they've become owners.

"I think when we're dealing with intelligent people they can see every successful dynasty, every successful club has taken time. Yeah you have one where you maybe win one year or the second year, but you can't sustain it if you don't build something sustainable. It's impossible."

More pressure has been piled on Thomas Frank after Tottenham’s dispiriting 3-0 defeat away to Nottingham Forest. Spurs sit in the bottom half of the table, having only won one out of their last seven Premier League matches, with the Danish coach perhaps starting to wonder about his future at the club.

Frank has only been in north London for a few months, but concerns over his style of play and poor performances have done little to quell his doubters. It is unlikely that the Spurs hierarchy would part ways with Frank so soon into his tenure, but if they do opt to pull the trigger, Express Sport has taken a look at four potential options…

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Oliver Glasner

Oliver Glasner has been pulling up trees at Crystal Palace and there would be many clubs interested if he were to leave Selhurst Park. His contract is up at the end of the season, meaning it might not take much for Spurs to buy him out of his deal, amid previous concerns Glasner had regarding Palace’s recruitment.

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His 3-4-3 shape may fit Spurs too, as it prefers to build the ball in wide areas. Spurs have struggled to progress in midfield this season and Kevin Danso could form a back three, allowing the likes of Pedro Porro and Djed Spence more freedom to attack.

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Marco Silva

It would not be the first time Marco Silva has been linked with the Tottenham job.

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The Portuguese head coach continues to perform well at Fulham, taking several Premier League rejects and turning them into top performers at Craven Cottage.

He has Fulham just two points behind Spurs, despite a vast difference in resources, and got one over Frank when claiming a 2-1 win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium just a few weeks ago.

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Andoni Iraola

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Bournemouth, under Andoni Iraola, have hit a rough patch and have not won a game since their 2-0 victory over Forest in October.

But Iraola remains a man in demand and just a few months ago, he was being linked with several top jobs.

He, too, has a contract only until the end of the season and just this week insisted that there was no update on a potential extension.

Frank Lampard

They couldn’t, could they?

The sight of Chelsea legend Frank Lampard in the Spurs dugout would be abhorrent to many. But are Spurs in a position to turn down a potentially very talented head coach?

Lampard has experience in Europe and the top flight, and he revitalised his career at Coventry, having led them to the top of the Championship.

If they do not hire Lampard, they could fear coming up against his side next season.

Arsenal's decision-makers allowed Harry Kane to slip through their academy net as they believed a future Wolves striker possessed the qualities needed to succeed ahead of the Tottenham legend. Kane, 32, subsequently bagged 280 goals for Spurs and became England's record goalscorer. His blockbuster £86million switch to Bayern Munich in August 2023 has already seen him find the net an incredible 113 times for the German powerhouse.

However, things might have unfolded very differently had Arsenal bosses not preferred Benik Afobe over Kane, who had joined the Gunners aged just eight. Afobe progressed through Arsenal's youth system alongside Kane but later went on to feature for Wolves, Arsenal's Premier League rivals this weekend, in three separate spells.

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Afobe, currently plying his trade for Al-Arabi in the UAE at 32, managed 29 goals during his time with the Midlands club. The DR Congo international also turned out for Bournemouth in the top flight but never came remotely close to achieving Kane's impact on the division.

Kane was considered to lack pace as a youngster and Arsenal simply felt that Afobe represented the superior prospect of the pair, arguing he was more athletic, more clinical in front of goal and stronger in physical duels.

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Arsenal perhaps cannot be entirely criticised for their decision to favour Afobe over Kane, though. Afobe had attracted interest from Barcelona before penning his maiden professional contract, such was his encouraging potential.

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Injuries significantly hindered Afobe's progress in north London, ultimately leading to his departure to Wolves in 2014 following multiple loan arrangements.

Kane subsequently revealed that Arsenal's decision to release him after just one campaign - the club he had supported since childhood - fuelled his determination to reach the pinnacle of football.

"Yeah, probably throughout my whole career, really," Kane reflected in September 2024. "Starting from when I was eight years old being released from Arsenal. That might have built a bit of desire to prove to them when I was that age."

Liam Brady, Arsenal's former academy director and club legend, acknowledged responsibility for the Kane decision, despite not personally making the call himself, stating the "buck stops with him".

Kane moved to Spurs at age 11 but faced near-dismissal there, too, during his teenage years. His path to success at Tottenham proved arduous, with loan spells at Leyton Orient and Norwich, plus temporary moves to Millwall and Leicester.

Tim Sherwood eventually gave Kane his maiden Premier League start. Nevertheless, it was Mauricio Pochettino who truly believed in his abilities, with Kane's dramatic 90th-minute strike against Aston Villa in November 2014 reportedly rescuing Pochettino from potential dismissal during a difficult period.

Roy Massey, the highly regarded former Arsenal academy chief, has previously confessed that informing Kane he wasn't up to standard ranks among the most difficult discussions of his career.

Despite their current success in the league, Arsenal will undoubtedly reflect on their costly mistake with Kane, which had significant implications not only in terms of goals but also for their future finances.

Harry Kane received an unexpected mention during Mohamed Salah's explosive interview, as the Liverpool star cited him whilst launching a scathing attack on his club. This comes after the Egyptian was dropped from the starting lineup for a third consecutive Premier League match following a recent dip in form. The Reds have struggled to find their rhythm in the league this season, with Tottenham keeping a close eye on developments at Anfield ahead of their clash in a fortnight's time.

Salah will miss that encounter due to AFCON international commitments, though uncertainty surrounds whether he'll still be at the club for the return fixture in March. The 33-year-old launched a strange attack of his employers, claiming he has been "thrown under the bus" by the club's hierarchy. He also referenced his deteriorating relationship with Arne Slot, whilst hinting that the weekend's Brighton clash might mark his final appearance for Liverpool.

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His anger stems from being repeatedly overlooked for selection despite believing he has earned his spot in the team. The stalemate against Leeds proved to be the final straw for Salah, who didn't even feature as a substitute, prompting his reference to Kane when questioned about his frustration.

He said: "Can you answer that? [If he is frustrated that he wasn't brought on] I have been at this club, scoring more than anyone in this generation, since I came to the Premier League. I don't think anyone has scored more goals and made more assists than me.

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"In the whole Premier League. If I am somewhere else, everybody would go to the media and defend the players. I am the only one in this situation.

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"Can I give an example? It's silly, but I am sorry. I remember a while ago, Harry Kane was not scoring for ten games, everyone in the media was like 'Oh, Harry will score for sure', when it comes to Mo, everyone is like 'he needs to be on the bench'. I am sorry, Harry!"

Whilst this may have been a minor dig at Kane, accompanied by an apology, it was also an inaccurate claim from Salah. Opta subsequently debunked this assertion, revealing that Kane has never endured six consecutive top-flight starts without finding the net throughout his career.

This isn't to suggest the former Spurs striker hasn't faced difficulties over the years. Questions have periodically arisen regarding his pace and fitness record, as well as his capacity to deliver in the biggest matches.

Nevertheless, his goal-scoring statistics speak volumes, with 17 representing his lowest return for a complete Premier League campaign during his Tottenham spell, and 30 his peak on two separate occasions. Now plying his trade at Bayern Munich, the England skipper continues to demonstrate his prowess at the highest level.

At 32 years of age, just 12 months Salah's junior, Kane has been finding the net regularly in the Bundesliga too. During his debut season, the forward netted 36 times, before following that up with 26 goals in the subsequent campaign. With an impressive tally of 17 goals in just 13 appearances for Bayern, it appears that the Tottenham legend is not planning to slow down anytime soon.

Tottenham captain Cristian Romero has left no doubt about his views following the 2-2 draw with Newcastle. Spurs had to make do with a single point from their clash against the Magpies at St James' Park on Tuesday evening in the Premier League. Bruno Guimaraes put Newcastle ahead in the 71st minute, before Romero levelled matters shortly afterwards for Thomas Frank's men.

Anthony Gordon then restored Newcastle's advantage from the penalty spot in the dying moments, only for Romero to net his second - a spectacular overhead kick in added time - to salvage a point for Tottenham. Spurs were left fuming over the penalty decision awarded to Newcastle, which came following a VAR review at St James' Park.

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Tottenham midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur was adjudged to have held Newcastle defender Dan Burn during a corner, with the incident initially going unspotted before referee Thomas Bramall was directed by VAR officials at Stockley Park to consult his pitch-side monitor.

The reversal has, unsurprisingly, become one of the key discussion points from the match, with Romero expressing his displeasure after the final whistle. On X - previously Twitter - Romero shared a post from Rio Ferdinand, who slammed the decision to give Newcastle a penalty.

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"Disgraceful decision to reward [Newcastle] penalty," Ferdinand posted. "Whoever is controlling the VAR should be ashamed [and] the ref then reviews and should be also. Well done Newcastle." Romero shared Ferdinand's message before posting his own thoughts to his 318,000 X followers.

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"It's all about working hard, getting better, and pushing forward," wrote Romero on X. "Especially now, when things aren't going our way, we've got to stick together. Thanks for all the support as always fans see you at home on Saturday."

Meanwhile, Frank has explained his belief that Newcastle's penalty claim should not have been awarded - insisting the Tottenham boss felt VAR ought not to have got involved.

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"And also, the second one is very disappointing to concede because for me it's never a penalty," said Frank. "Even speaking to some from Newcastle, who didn't think it's a penalty.

"And we need the consistency. Because that penalty, that would be given two times a game. And I think the referee call on the pitch nailed it. And VAR can only be if it's clear and obvious."

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Newcastle missed out on two points at home against Tottenham at St James' Park in a costly Premier League encounter. The Magpies faced a Spurs team that had only managed one victory in their last seven matches since their previous visit to the north east for the Carabao Cup. The teams were level at half-time, but Tottenham dodged a bullet when Joelinton's powerful shot rebounded off the post.

However, it was his compatriot Bruno Guimaraes who broke the stalemate after being brought on as a substitute. Cristan Romero brought Spurs level, but Newcastle retaliated. However, after Gordon's late penalty seemed to have secured three points for Newcastle, a second equaliser left the Magpies deflated. Here's how the Magpies performed against Spurs...

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Aaron Ramsdale 6.

Had little to save but let in two soft goals. A disappointing audition to replace Nick Pope as the number one.

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Tino Livramento 7.

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Showed maturity in parts. Was shocked when Romero's second goal went in.

Malick Thiaw 6.

Cool and collected. But will be disappointed with the second equaliser.

Dan Burn 5.

Should have done better with Romero's goal. Thought he'd rescued Newcastle by winning a penalty but crumbled in stoppage time along with the rest of his defence.

Lewis Hall 6.

Failed to block Kudus' cross for the equaliser but otherwise had a steady night.

Joelinton 6.

Unfortunate to hit the post. Heavily targeted by Spurs' midfield enforcers.

Sandro Tonali 7.

Performed his role well but was substituted at half-time after only 31 touches.

Lewis Miley 7.

Retained his spot on merit and the teenager played a significant role in this victory. Received a warm applause as he was substituted.

Harvey Barnes 6.

Made a few incisive runs and posed some threat. However, on a night when Newcastle required 8/10 performances - this fell short.

Delivered three crosses but only one found its mark.

Jacob Murphy 4.

Given a great opportunity but failed to capitalise. Lacked drive and it was no surprise to see him substituted just after the hour mark.

Managed 10 crosses but few found their intended target.

Nick Woltemade 6.

Proved to be a handful. Improved in the second half.

Wasn't at his best during stoppage time for the goal that resulted in a 2-2 draw.

Subs.

Bruno Guimaraes 8 (for Tonal 46).

Despite being a substitute, he still earned man of the match for bringing energy, inspiration and the equalising goal. Man of the match.

Anthony Gordon 8 (for Barnes 65).

Altered the game on the left. Played a crucial role in the equaliser and then kept his cool to score the winning goal.

Anthony Elanga 6 (for Murphy 65).

Made an impact. Provided an option but froze as the second equaliser was scored.

Fabian Schar (for Miley 90).

*Substitutes must play for at least 15 minutes to receive a rating.