‘Newcastle starting to upset the big boys’ - Alan Shearer on Magpies' top-four hopes & win at Spurs

I truly didn't expect Newcastle to beryllium successful the apical 4 aft 12 games and, though I'd emotion to beryllium proved wrong, I don't deliberation they volition inactive beryllium determination travel the extremity of the season.

Their 2-1 triumph was different illustration of however Newcastle are starting to upset immoderate of the large boys - and they don't similar it.

It was a akin communicative erstwhile they went to Anfield successful August. They were beaten successful the end, by a 98th-minute winner, but they were truly unlucky to suffer and Liverpool were moaning and groaning astir however they had, almost, seen the crippled out.

It's a bully sign, due to the fact that it shows Newcastle are nary longer a brushed interaction wherever they spell - thing Manchester United besides recovered retired at Old Trafford past week.

People cognize things are antithetic now. They cognize Newcastle are coming, and they cognize they mean business.

'Newcastle look truthful acceptable erstwhile they press'

Other than the archetypal 15 minutes against Spurs, I thought Newcastle were the amended squad and they deserved their win.

Tottenham looked rather mean and one-dimensional successful comparison, portion Newcastle had plentifulness of ideas erstwhile they came forward.

It was ever going to beryllium pugnacious for them erstwhile Spurs pulled a extremity backmost truthful aboriginal successful the 2nd half, but this Newcastle squad has got a spot of alloy astir them, and they ne'er panicked astatine immoderate stage.

The large happening for maine erstwhile I ticker them is however acceptable they look erstwhile they press, and however good organised they are.

They cognize erstwhile and however to property arsenic a team, and it looks similar they recognize each other's crippled truthful they tin enactment unneurotic - for the full 90-plus minutes.

To a man, they were superb defensively to support Spurs chances to a minimum. I cognize Kieran Trippier got caught retired by Harry Kane for their extremity but, different than that, the Newcastle backmost 4 did not truly enactment a ft incorrect erstwhile Spurs attacked successful the 2nd half.

Behind them, Nick Pope made 2 truly bully saves aboriginal on, but wasn't truly tested aft that.

Pope has been a fantastic signing, not conscionable due to the fact that of his superb shot-stopping but besides due to the fact that of however agleam and alert helium is astatine each times, sweeping up erstwhile balls are played implicit the apical of his defence.

That was his main occupation aft the interruption against Spurs, but helium was ever connected his toes and you are ne'er going to beryllium tense with him down you.

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'Almiron's betterment has been incredible'

Part of the crushed Newcastle are successful 4th spot successful the Premier League is their antiaircraft grounds - they person conceded less than immoderate different broadside successful the apical formation - but it's just to accidental they person amazed radical astatine the different extremity of the transportation too.

Miguel Almiron got different superb extremity against Spurs, and the betterment from him this play has been incredible.

The 1 happening that has ne'er been successful uncertainty since helium joined Newcastle successful 2019 is his work-rate - helium has ever enactment the effort in, and more.

What has changed is that helium has added an extremity product, not lone with his goals but besides his balls into the box.

Almiron looks a existent subordinate present - intelligent, truly quick, crisp connected the shot and capable to spell past people.

Miguel Almiron has six Premier League goals this season, his champion instrumentality successful a azygous run astatine Newcastle

From wherever helium was erstwhile helium was arrived to wherever helium is present is an astonishing transformation. It is the aforesaid with Joelinton, and recognition for that has to spell to the manager.

Howe has improved the players who were already determination erstwhile helium took implicit successful November past year, but helium has evidently signed immoderate amended ones too.

In fact, each subordinate helium has brought successful implicit the past mates of transportation windows has been a bully signing and improved the team.

That is precise uncommon for immoderate club, particularly erstwhile you see however galore players person arrived astatine Newcastle successful that time, but they person each made a affirmative interaction successful immoderate way.

'Bruno could get successful immoderate Premier League team'

Three of the backmost 4 against Spurs - Sven Botman, Dan Burn and Trippier - are Howe signings, on with Pope successful goal, and they person each made the squad much solid, with a amended antiaircraft understanding.

In midfield, Bruno Guimaraes has been truthful good, helium could get into immoderate squad successful the Premier League connected his existent form.

Up front, Chris Wood is chiefly utilized disconnected the seat present but helium played a hugely important relation successful getting the nine retired of relegation occupation aft joining past season.

We've not seen capable of Alexander Isak yet due to the fact that of his wounded but I ne'er had immoderate uncertainty that Callum Wilson would bash good erstwhile helium played.

Wilson's occupation is his fitness, which is truly unfortunate due to the fact that if helium didn't prime up injuries the mode helium has done passim his career, helium would astir apt beryllium connected the level to Qatar for the World Cup.

He's a goalscorer, who is ever reasoning astir uncovering the nett - similar against Spurs, erstwhile helium was fixed an unexpected accidental aft Hugo Lloris collided with him, but knew precisely what to do.

Wilson is simply a menace successful the box, and with his runs successful behind. He is pugnacious to play against and, with him successful the side, goals are not going to beryllium a occupation for this Newcastle squad either.

Alan Shearer was speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan.

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