Tottenham Hotspur’s slide in the Premier League continued on Tuesday with a 2 to 1 home defeat to Newcastle United, a result that left the north London club hovering above the relegation places and intensified scrutiny of manager Thomas Frank.
The loss at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium extended a winless run in the league that stretches back to late December and left the side with 29 points from 26 matches, only five clear of 18th placed West Ham United. Tottenham have not dropped out of England’s top division since 1977, but their current position has drawn attention to a tightening battle near the bottom of the table.
Newcastle’s victory was secured through goals from Malick Thiaw and Jacob Ramsey, either side of an equaliser by Archie Gray, and lifted Eddie Howe’s team into mid table on 36 points. The visitors controlled much of the first half and took the lead in stoppage time before the interval when Thiaw finished from close range after a rebound inside the penalty area.
Tottenham improved after the break and drew level through Gray, but Ramsey restored Newcastle’s advantage following a move created by Anthony Gordon. It was his first goal since arriving from Aston Villa. Supporters reacted with boos at full time, and chants directed at Frank could be heard as he left the pitch. “I understand the frustration and the easiest thing is to point at me,” Frank said after the match. “That’s part of the job unfortunately. I will work day and night to turn this around but it is not just one person. There is no doubt we need to improve and I need to be part of that.”
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The club’s next league fixture is a home match against leaders Arsenal, increasing the pressure ahead of another north London contest.
Tottenham have managed only two home league wins this season and have struggled with injuries, according to club officials, though detailed squad updates were not released after Tuesday’s match.
Elsewhere, Manchester United’s late equaliser against West Ham prevented Tottenham from slipping closer to the relegation zone. Benjamin Sesko scored in stoppage time to secure a 1 to 1 draw that kept United fourth in the standings and denied West Ham what would have been a fourth victory in five league matches. West Ham had taken the lead through Tomas Soucek early in the second half after a move involving Jarrod Bowen. United had a goal from Casemiro disallowed before Sesko converted late on. The result ended caretaker manager Michael Carrick’s perfect record since taking over in January but preserved his side’s position in the top four on 45 points. “It is a tough place to come and we didn’t have that sharpness to find the answers,” Carrick said. “Great spirit again and we will take the point and move on.”
Chelsea also dropped points, drawing 2 to 2 at Stamford Bridge against Leeds United. The result ended manager Liam Rosenior’s winning start in league play since succeeding Enzo Maresca.
Chelsea led by two goals, with Joao Pedro scoring and Cole Palmer converting a penalty, his third successful spot kick in two matches. Leeds reduced the deficit after Moises Caicedo fouled Jayden Bogle, allowing Lukas Nmecha to score from the penalty spot, and later equalised through Noah Okafor following a defensive lapse. “If we want to improve and get to where we want to be, we have to make sure we’re switched on for 90 minutes. It’s as simple as that,” Rosenior said.
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The draw moved Leeds up to 15th place, above Tottenham, as the lower half of the table tightened. Bournemouth added to the congestion with a 2 to 1 away win at Everton, coming from behind after Iliman Ndiaye’s first half penalty. Second half goals from teenager Rayan and Amine Adli secured the points, while Everton finished with 10 players following Jake O’Brien’s dismissal.
Nottingham Forest, positioned just below Tottenham with a game in hand, were scheduled to face Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday. West Ham remained on 24 points, with several clubs separated by narrow margins as the season approaches its final stretch.
The outcomes left the fight for survival increasingly competitive, with mid table sides and those near the bottom separated by only a few points. Tottenham’s upcoming fixtures, beginning with Arsenal, are expected to play a significant role in shaping the standings in the weeks ahead, while Newcastle aim to build on their result and maintain momentum in the middle of the table.
