Newcastle stun lacklustre Spurs with helping hand from VAR

Tottenham were involved in more VAR controversy as this time Mauricio Pochettino’s men were denied a late penalty and Newcastle held on for a shock 1-0 win away to the Champions League finalists on Sunday.

Joelinton’s first goal for the Magpies gave Steve Bruce’s men a first-half lead to defend and they did so manfully to pick up their first points of the season.

Spurs were saved by VAR to claim a fortunate 2-2 draw away to Manchester City last weekend as the champions had a late goal ruled out, just as they did in a dramatic Champions League quarterfinal between the pair last season.

However, it was Tottenham’s turn to feel aggrieved as Harry Kane was felled by Jamaal Lascelles inside the area, but VAR did not overturn Mike Dean’s initial decision to wave play on.

Newcastle had suffered a terrible start to the season with defeats by Arsenal and Norwich, the latter of which forced Bruce to cancel a day off for his players for extra training.