Newcastle v Spurs – the stats

We resume our Premier League campaign this afternoon (Sunday 4 April) as we take on Newcastle United. Ahead of the clash at St James’ Park, we take a look through the key numbers behind the game (2.05pm kick-off).

Our record at the Toon

In the last decade, we have generally enjoyed our trips to the north east. In league games at both today’s opponents Newcastle and nearby Sunderland, we have lost just two of our last 16 visits, winning nine.

Looking specifically at our games against the men in black and white, we have won five of our last seven Premier League meetings while, at St James’ Park, we have taken all three points in five of our last six. That includes victories in each of our last three trips – in our history, we are yet to win four consecutive games against the Magpies at their 129-year-old home. Meanwhile, it has been over 17 years since we last failed to score in a match at St James’ Park. There also hasn’t been a goalless draw between the sides in the league for almost 50 years, with the last such result being recorded back in August, 1971.

Three on the bounce at St James' Park

The form guide

It has been a difficult year so far for Newcastle as they battle against the prospect of relegation. Having secured a fairly comfortable 13^th-place finish last season in the Premier League, they have endured a much more challenging campaign this term and come into this encounter sitting just two points above the drop zone with eight games remaining.

In their last 18 games in the competition, they have won just twice while, in their last six outings, they have taken only three points (D3 L3). In that period, they also scored just three goals. Their struggle in finding the back of the net has largely been due to their top scorer, Callum Wilson, having missed each of their last six games with injury. So far this season, forward Wilson has accounted for 10 of the Magpies’ 28 Premier League goals, while he has also provided five assists. The men in black and white have picked up three points from a possible 24 without the former Bournemouth man in their side (D3 L5).

In terms of their home form, Steve Bruce’s side have won just one of their last eight such games (D4 L3). Also, in 11 of their 14 matches at St James’ Park this season, both teams have scored – a record high in the Premier League. Meanwhile, we have won four of our last five Premier League games – no side in the competition has won more points than us in their last five games. We have also kept a clean sheet in two of our last three away games.

Mourinho v Bruce

Jose Mourinho has never lost a competitive game to Steve Bruce. Having faced the former Manchester United captain on 12 occasions to date, Jose has won nine of their meetings, drawing the other three.

Despite that though, when it comes to trips to St James’ Park, our Head Coach hasn’t fared quite as well in his career having won just one of his eight Premier League matches there. That sole victory came in his only visit to the north east as our Head Coach so far, back in July, 2020. A brace from Harry Kane as well as a fine strike from Heung-Min Son saw us take all three points with a 3-1 win over the Magpies. Meanwhile, it is 11 years to the day since we last failed to beat a Steve Bruce side away from home, having suffered a 3-1 defeat at Bruce’s Sunderland on 3 April, 2010.

Kane’s flying

Harry Kane has been involved in 30 goals (17 goals, 13 assists) in his 27 Premier League appearances so far this season – only two players across Europe’s ‘top five’ leagues have recorded more goal involvements (Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski, 41, and Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, 31). The striker is now just three goal contributions away from matching last season’s Premier League record of 33, which was set by Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne.

In all competitions, Harry has been involved in 43 goals in just 40 appearances, which is seven more than any other Premier League player. He is now just two goal involvements away from matching the best ever season of his senior career (45 in 2017/18).

Currently, our home grown forward leads the way for both goals (17) and assists (13) in the Premier League. Only twice in the competition's history has a player finished the season as both top goalscorer and assist provider – Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in 1998/99 with Chelsea (18 goals, 13 assists) and Andy Cole in 1993/94 for Newcastle United (34 goals, 13 assists).