In a disappointing Premier League showdown, Tottenham Hotspur endured a crushing 4-0 defeat against Newcastle United at St James' Park on Saturday. Ange Postecoglou, the head coach of Spurs, made a tactical change by fielding Rodrigo Bentancur in place of Pape Matar Sarr, following Bentancur's impressive performance in their previous victory against Nottingham Forest.

Tottenham had hoped to exert pressure on Aston Villa with a positive result against Newcastle, as Villa faced a daunting clash against their fierce rivals, Arsenal, on Sunday. However, the match became a painful reminder of last season's dire showing, as under Cristian Stellini, Tottenham suffered an appalling 6-1 defeat on the same turf. This season, however, they had managed to secure a 4-1 victory at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The game got off to an optimistic start for Spurs, who had several early chances. Unfortunately, their hopeful momentum was shattered midway through the first half when defensive errors gifted two quick goals to Newcastle. Firstly, Destiny Udogie was dispossessed by Anthony Gordon, who swiftly fed Alexander Isak to rifle in a low shot. This was followed shortly after, as Pedro Porro's clearance inadvertently found its way to Gordon, who calmly slotted the ball into the net, aided by Micky van de Ven's unfortunate slip while attempting to block the shot.

After the break, Newcastle extended their lead to 3-0 when Bruno Guimaraes played a perfectly-timed ball over the top, allowing Isak to score his second goal of the match. Frustratingly for Spurs, their attempts to mount a comeback fell flat, and Newcastle sealed their victory with a fourth goal late in the game. Although Tottenham had been warned about Newcastle's set-piece threat, they were unable to prevent Fabian Schar from rising highest and heading the ball into the net.

The defeat leaves Tottenham with a lot to contemplate and work on, as they aim to bounce back in their upcoming fixtures. Postecoglou will undoubtedly be disappointed with the outcome, yet keen on rectifying the team's errors and regaining their winning form.

As the Premier League season progresses, Tottenham will need to regroup and find their winning formula to climb up the table. This defeat certainly emphasizes the areas requiring improvement, and it's up to Postecoglou and his team to address these issues moving forward.