Alan Shearer expresses disappointment with brutal verdict after Spurs pegged his old team to a 2-2 draw
Alan Shearer walked away from St James’ Park on Tuesday night with mixed emotions—encouraged by Newcastle United’s overall performance against Tottenham Hotspur, yet ultimately disappointed by the result. It’s a sentiment echoed by the entire Toon Army, who saw their side twice take the lead only to settle for a 2-2 draw.
For long stretches of the match, Eddie Howe’s men looked sharper, hungrier, and far more dangerous than Spurs. They controlled possession, dictated the tempo, and created a handful of golden opportunities long before the breakthrough finally arrived in the 71st minute. But their inability to make their dominance count proved fatal, leaving supporters—and Shearer—wondering what might have been.
Shearer Frustrated by Missed Chances Despite Dominant Display
Speaking alongside Gary Lineker on The Rest Is Football podcast, Shearer couldn’t hide his irritation at the end result. The Newcastle legend admitted that despite being thoroughly impressed by the intensity and fluidity of his former club’s performance, the lack of a clinical edge was their undoing.
Lineker mentioned that Shearer had been messaging him during the game, convinced Newcastle should have been well out of sight by halftime.
“You were texting saying that Newcastle should be three up,” Lineker revealed.
“That was the disappointment tonight,” Shearer replied. “I thought Newcastle played really well. There was an intensity about their game.”
Shearer went on to praise Newcastle’s full-backs for their energy and defensive discipline, noting that they restricted Tottenham to “very, very little” during the opening 45 minutes. He cited Lewis Miley’s big chance, Joelinton striking the post, and several other half-openings as evidence of Newcastle’s superiority.
But the lack of a first-half breakthrough left the door open—something Shearer knows is always dangerous in Premier League football.
He also commented on Eddie Howe’s decision to replace Sandro Tonali at halftime.
“I don’t know whether he got an injury or not, but he took Tonali off and put Bruno Guimarães on. And Bruno’s performance in the second half was brilliant.”
Newcastle Lose Control and Let Spurs Back In
Despite the strong platform they had built, Newcastle’s second-half game management was alarmingly poor. Their composure evaporated. Their passing became careless. And their decision-making invited pressure rather than relieving it.
Joelinton, who had contributed heavily in the first half, repeatedly lost the ball in dangerous areas. Across the pitch, Newcastle surrendered possession cheaply, gifting Tottenham momentum they had struggled to earn for themselves.
That sloppiness proved costly.
Spurs clawed their way back into the contest, equalising twice—once after Newcastle’s initial opener and again deep into stoppage time after Anthony Gordon had restored the lead. Instead of closing the game out with maturity and discipline, Howe’s side retreated, hesitated, and ultimately paid the price.
After the final whistle, Bruno Guimarães openly questioned his team’s mentality. And as harsh as it sounded, he was right. Newcastle were in full control for long spells and had the opportunity to put the game to bed. Instead, they allowed Spurs to grow in belief and handed them a lifeline that should never have been offered.
The late equaliser—arriving in the 95th minute—felt like a gut punch, but the truth is Newcastle only had themselves to blame.
A Night of Promise, but One That Ended in Regret
For Shearer and for the supporters, the evening summed up Newcastle’s current weaknesses: promising performances undermined by lapses in concentration, missed chances, and a lack of ruthlessness. The football was good. The intensity was high. But the end product and mindset fell short.
Newcastle may take positives from their display, yet the overwhelming feeling leaving St James’ Park was one of regret. A win was there for the taking—twice—but Howe’s side failed to seize it.
And in the Premier League, you rarely get that many chances.