Spurs 1-2 Newcastle: Eddie Howe savours ‘special connection’ after supporters’ response

It is hard to think of a more contrasting scene at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

On a night Spurs manager Thomas Frank was subjected to humiliating chants of «You’re getting sacked in the morning» from a section of his own supporters, opposite number Eddie Howe was repeatedly serenaded by a buoyant away end.

Howe was even pushed in front of the travelling support by Bruno Guimaraes and Kieran Trippier to take the acclaim of the crowd after his side’s 2-1 win.

The Newcastle head coach is not usually one for doing so.

But he could not help but punch the air before waving his arms up and down as Newcastle supporters roared in response.

«That was a special connection,» he said. «I’m grateful it’s still there.»

Those words were uttered just a few days after Newcastle were booed off at St James’ Park following a 3-2 defeat against Brentford.

That was an evening a crestfallen Howe admitted he was not doing his job «well enough at the moment».

It led to a lot of soul searching for Howe behind the scenes following just one win in eight games in all competitions.

«It was not an act,» he said. «That was me being very real and very genuine in terms of how I felt.

«I’ll say it again. I’ve got to believe that I’m the right person to be in the job with all the sacrifices that it entails and I’ve got to feel that the players are playing for me.

«Today they showed that they are – but that has to be consistent moving forward.»

The sight of a number of Howe’s players struggling with cramp in the closing stages certainly told you they were fighting for him.

They were maxed out on a night some familiar names and some more recent additions delivered for Newcastle.

The club’s recruitment has rightly come under intense scrutiny – Newcastle have not seen much of an immediate return from a £250m summer spend – but three of Howe’s signings stepped up on Wednesday.

Malick Thiaw, the one undoubted early success, opened the scoring, the rapid Anthony Elanga put in his most impressive performance yet and Jacob Ramsey scored what proved to be the winner after netting his first goal for the club in the second half.

«I keep saying the lack of training is slowing their development,» Howe said.

«But they are beginning to feel at home in the team and once you feel part of it, and feel integral to how the team plays, you can only get better.»

Yet it was striking how Newcastle started the game without two headline additions.

Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa were left on the bench – just a few months after Howe spent £124m on the forwards.

That told its own story as the visitors lined up without a recognised striker for the second away league game in a row.

Anthony Gordon was instead tasked with leading the line on the road again after Howe took heart from the opening half an hour of his side’s 4-1 defeat against Liverpool.

Gordon put Newcastle in front at Anfield that night, but it was still a bold call.

However, Gordon, Elanga and Harvey Barnes aggressively led the press out of possession as they hunted down Spurs’ defenders and broke forward quickly with the ball.

There were still occasions where Newcastle were crying out for a poacher in the box to get on the end of a number of teasing crosses from Elanga.

However, the speed of Newcastle’s front line caused Spurs problems and Gordon’s dancing feet set up Ramsey’s winner.

Remarkably, it was just travel-sick Newcastle’s third away league victory of the season.

Newcastle have too often been soft, throwing away more points (19) than any other side in the division.

But this was an evening where they «really did inspire each other» following a difficult few days.

«If anything they used it in a positive way and reinforced relationships,» Howe added.

«It made us all look inward and look at what we’re doing and how we can do it better.»