Shay Given says Eddie Howe did something against Tottenham that Newcastle United fans are not used to

Add as preferred source on Google

Newcastle United beat Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, but they did it in a different way.

Eddie Howe’s team were nowhere near their best. There was not the usual intensity from Newcastle United, particularly at St James’ Park.

Newcastle have been amazing at home since Eddie Howe became Toon boss, and his good record continued on Sunday. The 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur means Newcastle have enjoyed an unbeaten start to the 2024/25 season.

But it was not a great performance from the Magpies, with both of Newcastle’s goals coming against the run of play according to Alan Shearer.

That certainly was the case, with Newcastle having to do a lot of defending at St James’ Park on Sunday.

Shay Given thinks Newcastle played differently against Tottenham Hotspur

And former Toon goalkeeper Shay Given believes that was by design, suggesting that Eddie Howe set his team up differently to protect Emil Krafth and Dan Burn at centre-back.

That duo played together once again on Sunday, with Fabian Schar suspended and no new centre-back arriving before the transfer window closed. Newcastle failed to sign Marc Guehi, which resulted in Krafth continuing to slot in at centre-back, despite being a right-back.

Shay Given told BBC Match Of The Day 2 that he thinks Howe got his team to play deeper because of his lack of options at the heart of defence.

“It’s been a busy old week for Newcastle off the pitch,” he said.

“The owners were there today. Obviously Guehi was supposed to come, but they didn’t get it over the line.

“He started with Krafth and Burn at centre-half today. I think Eddie set up differently, in a sense of we’re going to have to sit deep to protect them. Krafth’s a full-back and Burn’s played the last couple of seasons at left-back.

“Botman is a big miss, Schar was suspended today. They are desperate for a centre-half and a right winger.

“Eddie Howe set his team up differently today, to sit in a relatively low block and hit them on the counterattack – at home, which maybe the fans might not be used to at St James’ Park.”

Needs must for Eddie Howe in front of PIF chief

It was not a typical St James’ Park performance from Newcastle United under Eddie Howe. However, it was fit for purpose.

Howe found a way to win with the players he had, and that is what makes him an outstanding manager. He gets the most out of what he has available, which is a great trait for a manager who was not helped during the summer transfer window.

Newcastle beat Tottenham in front of chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan, who was at St James’ Park alongside Darren Eales and Paul Mitchell.

It was a pre-planned trip from the PIF chief, rather than a rection to what has gone on over the summer.

Al-Rumayyan did not witness Newcastle at their flee-flowing best, but he did see them battle to pick up another win.

Moving forwards, Howe will hope to be a bit more expansive, with Schar available for selection once again after the international break following the conclusion of his three-match ban.