James Maddison has reacted to Tottenham Hotspur’s 4-0 loss to Newcastle United at St James’ Park.
Spurs were defeated 6-1 at St James’ Park a year ago, and history threatened to repeat itself when two quick goals from Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon put Newcastle ahead 2-0 before halftime.
Isak added a second goal, while Fabian Schar’s late header expanded the lead. Maddison says Newcastle’s goals in the 30th and 32nd minutes left Spurs with a “mountain to climb”.
“Just a really bad day,” explained the England international. “We conceded the first goal, and when you concede a second so early in a stadium like this, we sloppily went back to the keeper from the start, knowing they’d press.
“You find yourself 2-0 down and give yourself a mountain to climb.”
He went on to say, “I felt that at 0-0, there were some opportunities for us to play. We just weren’t courageous enough with the ball, I believe – too many safe passes, too many safe alternatives, and little guts to attempt a riskier pass.
“It was all a bit safe, which I believe lost us the 0-0. When you concede two so fast, it’s the poor stuff that cost us.”
Newcastle was eighth in the Premier League rankings prior to kickoff, with Tottenham fourth. However, by the end of the game, United had risen to sixth place, while the visitors had fallen out of the top four due to goal difference.
Tottenham suffered their biggest defeat of the season, ending their Champions League qualification ambitions. Newcastle, meanwhile, won consecutive league games for the first time since early December.
