Tottenham 1-1 Newcastle: Callum Wilson nets last-minute VAR penalty against dominant Spurs

Callum Wilson’s 97th-minute VAR-awarded penalty continued the debate on the new handball interpretation as Newcastle held dominant Spurs to a 1-1 draw.

In a game they controlled from almost start to finish, Lucas Moura slotted the hosts ahead when Harry Kane again turned provider to tee up the Brazilian for his first goal in 22 Premier League games, as the woodwork and some superb goalkeeping from Karl Darlow kept the scoreline respectable in Newcastle’s favour by the break.

Jonjo Shelvey could have provided the Magpies with a shock equaliser on the stroke of half-time but saw his volley whistle wide of the far post, while Jeff Hendrick wasted one of few chances in the second half, despite the visitors’ improving on a dismal opening 45 minutes.

In a weekend already fuelled by handball drama at Brighton and Crystal Palace, Newcastle were awarded a 93rd-minute penalty out of nowhere as, after checking the pitchside monitor, referee Peter Bankes adjudged Eric Dier had handled in the area – a decision which saw Jose Mourinho storm out of the dugout and down the tunnel – before Wilson beat Hugo Lloris from the spot for an equaliser both sides could barely believe had materialised.

Dominant Spurs denied by VAR

The pre-match talk of Jose Mourinho’s decision to leave Dele Alli out of his squad for a second successive league game, only 48 hours after saying he was ‘convinced’ the midfielder would remain a Tottenham player, was soon put on the back burner as Spurs flew out of the traps against Newcastle’s five-man defence.

Lo Celso’s fourth-minute free-kick provided the impressive Darlow his first chance to shine, as he palmed his near-post effort away before denying Harry Kane with a superb reflex stop on the rebound.

He would be at his best again to get a firm hand on Kane’s header back across goal minutes later, but with Newcastle camped in their half and struggling for an out ball, Moura’s opener on 25 minutes came as little surprise.

Kane, who provided four assists in Spurs’ 5-2 win at Southampton last weekend, was found by Son in space on the left, before nutmegging Isaac Hayden with a low delivery into the six-yard box which Moura stole in at the far post to finish.

Team news

Tottenham made only one change from the team who beat Southampton last weekend, with Tanguy Ndombele benched for Giovani Lo Celso – and Dele Alli left out of the squad again.

Newcastle brought back Joelinton and Miguel Almiron after their performances in midweek, with Matt Ritchie also restored for Jamal Lewis.

Before the break, Spurs should have added to their lead, with Son twice striking the woodwork from distance and Eric Dier missing a free header from a corner, before Newcastle – much as Tottenham had done last weekend – nearly provided a shock moments before the break, when Matt Ritchie’s delivery was volleyed just wide by Shelvey.

Steve Bruce had been left audibly furious with his side’s first-half defending and they improved following the interval, and could have found an equaliser with their best move of the game when Miguel Almiron found Hendrick’s run, but the Irish midfielder’s first-time finish flew well wide.

At the other end, Lo Celso again had Darlow at full stretch to keep out his low 20-yard effort, while half-time substitute Steven Bergwijn stung his palms on the volley.

Another sub Erik Lamela, who was inches from scoring at St Mary’s last time out, came nearly as close from an audacious free-kick from the right which Darlow was forced to palm over, before the Achilles’ heel of Spurs’ one-goal advantage was exposed in farcical circumstances.

With Tottenham preparing to take a throw-in deep in the Newcastle half, VAR official Lee Mason signalled to referee Bankes about a potential handball in the Spurs penalty area by Dier. After a check lasting almost two and a half minutes, which saw Bankes reviewing the footage on the pitchside monitor, the referee awarded Newcastle the injury-time spot kick, with Wilson making no mistake from 12 yards to snatch a point Newcastle had never looked likely to pick up.

What’s next?

Tottenham return to the Cararabao Cup with their London derby against Chelsea live on Sky Sports Football this Tuesday from 7pm; Kick-off at 7.45pm. Mourinho then faces a reunion with another of his former clubs when Spurs travel to Manchester United on Sunday, October 4, live on Sky Sports Premier League from 4.30pm.

Newcastle next visit Newport County in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night, live on Sky Sports Football; Kick-off at 5.30pm. They’re also back on the box next weekend with their trip to Burnley live on Sky Sports Premier League from 8pm on Saturday.