Tottenham were seething after Joelinton appeared to handle the ball before Anthony Gordon scored Newcastle’s first goal in their 2-1 defeat, and a spiky Ange Postecoglou insisted decisions were “not balanced”
Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou was left fuming about decisions in his side’s 2-1 loss to Newcastle and claimed Spurs would have won “if things were equal” as he hit out at a BBC Radio Five Live reporter.
An injury and illness ravaged Spurs team suffered their 10th defeat of the Premier League season already but gave a spirited performance despite being forced to make five changes for the game.
Dominic Solanke had given the home side the perfect start with a diving header in the fourth minute before Newcastle controversially got level through Anthony Gordon.
But Tottenham and Postecoglou were fuming after Joelinton appeared to handle the ball in the build-up. The Premier League later clarified that the goal was not disallowed because the contact was seen as accidental and the Brazilian’s hands were deemed to by his sides.
There were also claims that Dan Burn should have been given a second yellow after a handball while jumping to prevent a Tottenham counter-attack.
Postecoglou didn’t refer to any specific incident but snapped at a reporter when asked about decisions from referee Andy Madley and VAR.
“On the balance of play, any balance you want with all things being equal, we would have won today,” he said after the game. “Things weren’t equal and balanced.”
When the Australian was pushed for clarity on what was not equal, he hit back. “You can talk about whatever you want. You want my opinion – if all things were equal and balanced we would have won.
He refused to criticise his players after his tired and much-changed side fell to an in-form Newcastle team. Brandon Austin, who had never played for Spurs during 10 years with the club, came in for the unwell Fraser Forster in goal.
“Outstanding,” he added. “I couldn’t be prouder of the players. I couldn’t ask any more. It’s a game we would have won if all things were equal.
“We had plenty of chances. Our football was outstanding considering everything we’re going through. If it was an even playing field we’d have won.”
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