Frank has to flop Spurs, who had fewer touches than Vicario.

Tottenham Hotspur ended a three-game shedding streak in all competitions final evening with a hard-fought 2-2 draw with Newcastle United away at St James’s Park.

The Lilywhites have typically discovered it tough to get by means of at St James’ Park, as they’ve misplaced 4 video games in a row, however Thomas Frank managed to place an finish to that on Tuesday evening.

His males have typically struggled to bounce again from being out of place within the 2025-26 Premier League, however they did it twice on Tyneside to safe the factors they wanted.

The consequence leaves the Lilywhites in eleventh place forward of the remaining video games in midweek, though the arrival of the Dane throughout the low season has meant they’ve fallen additional down the desk than most anticipated.

Nevertheless, the match in opposition to Eddie Howe’s aspect might have been a lot worse had it not been for the important thing contribution of one among their gamers particularly throughout the contest.

How Cristian Romero saved Frank vs Newcastle

Since arriving earlier than the beginning of the continuing marketing campaign, Frank has named centre-back Cristian Romero a part of Spurs’ teaching group, with the defender typically sporting the captain’s armband.

The Argentine has featured in 11 of the 14 league video games thus far this season, and final evening’s efficiency in opposition to the Magpies was arguably his finest but.

He returned to the beginning eleven after his suspension and has since discovered the again of the web twice, with Anthony Gordon’s penalty securing an unlikely level for Frank’s aspect.

Romero’s second aim was a wonderful bicycle kick, arguably his finest aim, and the sort of end you’ll count on from an elite-level attacker.

His primary stats additional exhibit his spectacular efficiency as he efficiently completes 100% of tackles entered by defenders and in addition wins 50% of his aerial duels.

Different information akin to 5 clearances and 5 recoveries additionally present his affect inside the defensive third, making it clear that Romero has an enormous affect at each ends of the pitch.

Spurs star was saved by Romero in opposition to Newcastle

Regardless of Romero’s success in opposition to Newcastle final evening, not all of his gamers impressed, with lots of Franck’s beginning seven unable to make a lot of an affect on the sport.

Rodrigo Bentancur was re-elected after being on the bench in opposition to Fulham, however his return to the beginning eleven at St James’s failed.

The Uruguay worldwide didn’t convert any of his dribble makes an attempt and solely made two passes into the ultimate third, earlier than struggling in possession.

His impetuous nature got here into its personal once more in opposition to Tyneside, as he was additionally accountable for dragging down Dan Byrne contained in the penalty space, leading to Gordon’s second-half penalty.

However he wasn’t the one participant to underperform in opposition to the Magpies, with winger Brennan Johnson additionally unable to capitalize after being recalled to the squad after quite a few substitute appearances.

The Welshman was given the possibility to start out in a considerably unfamiliar left-wing place final evening, however it was definitely a efficiency to overlook for the attacker.

He performed 77 minutes in opposition to Howe’s aspect earlier than being despatched off, along with his lack of affect on the pitch warranting substitution.

The 24-year-old accomplished simply 57% of his tried passes, then misplaced the ball 12 occasions and took simply 29 touches, fewer than goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario’s 44.

Johnson additionally didn’t dribble and will solely put one cross into the field, giving the Lilywhites no possibilities.

As might be seen from the whole of 5 matches he participated in, he was extraordinarily dominant exterior of possession, however was solely in a position to get on high in 20% of his battles with the opposition backline.

In consequence, he was given a match ranking of simply 6/10 by Soccer London journalist Alasdair Gold, additional reflecting his lack of high quality in final evening’s draw.

Such a efficiency meant Frank must drop the winger in preparation for his return to motion on the weekend, and a win was desperately wanted to finish a barren spell.

With out Romero’s brilliance on the high finish of the pitch, the encounter on Tyneside might definitely have been worse – Johnson was definitely relieved by his team-mates.