Newcastle thrash Tottenham to close in on Champions League

While they may have been separated by just three points heading into the weekend, Newcastle were a league and then some apart from Tottenham during a chastening first half.

Jacob Murphy kicked proceedings off for the home side with a goal inside 60 seconds, roofing high into the net when Hugo Lloris parried a long-range shot into the forward’s path. Sensing blood, the Magpies continued their attacking endeavours, adding a second when Joelinton rounded the goalkeeper before sliding home into an empty net.

As the heavens opened in the North East, it continued to rain goals.

Less than three minutes after conceding the second, Tottenham shipped a third, with Murphy’s 25-yard right-footed rocket sailing beyond a shell-shocked Lloris.

Never before had Spurs conceded three before the 10-minute mark, but a relentless Newcastle were showing no signs of letting up.

A standout man for much of the campaign, Alexander Isak added a quick-fire double, piling the misery onto Tottenham’s shoulders. His first, a composed finish inside the penalty area, came after a stellar outside-of-the-boot pass from Joe Willock, which split the bamboozled Tottenham defence in half.

Only one club had slipped to a 5-0 deficit before the 21-minute mark in Premier League history, with Tottenham joining the unwanted company when Isak netted his second of the match.

Newcastle only managed six shots on target throughout the first half, but it mattered little for Tottenham, whose exploits will likely be remembered as one of the all-time worst opening 45 minutes from any Premier League club.

Playing like a side without a permanent manager, without a director of football, and without a clue during the first half, Tottenham looked as if they had saved some face early on in the second period when a dazzling solo run from Harry Kane ended with the England captain netting his 24th goal of the campaign.

However, any sparks of an unlikely comeback from Spurs were doused midway through the second half as substitute Callum Wilson added his name to the scoresheet with a simple finish inside the six-yard box.

The occasion marked an afternoon to remember for the St. James' Park faithful, whose UEFA Champions League hopes still remain firmly in their own hands.

Flashscore Man of the Match: Jacob Murphy (Newcastle United)