"Angriest I think I have ever been in my career" - Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou suggests Newcastle defeat was unfair

Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou has reacted to their 2-1 Premier League loss to Newcastle United at home on January 4. The Australian tactician's attacking style of play did not yield fruits on the day as they stumbled to the Magpies in defense.

Only four minutes into the game, the hosts looked like the better side as they took the lead through Dominic Solanke, whose diving header found the bottom corner. However, the equalizer came for Newcastle when Anthony Gordon capitalized on an error to score only two minutes later (6').

Spurs looked to play out from the back and beat the Magpies' press, but a pass from Lucas Bergvall hit Joelinton, with the forward handling the ball. However, the goal was not ruled out by VAR, causing some unhappiness and disappointment on the hosts' bench.

Alexander Isak put Newcastle ahead in the 38th minute, and Spurs spent the rest of the match unable to catch up to their visitors and find that elusive one point.

After the game, Ange Postecoglou shared his thoughts on how his team played and their "fantastic performance", suggesting the defeat was not fair. He said (via football.london):

"Considering everything we had to go through and the situation we are in right now to put on a performance like that, I take my hat off to the players. I thought they were outstanding. I’m just really, really angry, angriest I think I have ever been in my career that they were denied the right rewards for a fantastic performance."

About the Tottenham players, he added:

"Hugely proud. I’m shattered the boys didn’t get the rewards they deserved because we were outstanding, our football was outstanding against a very good opponent in good form and a good place. I thought it was brilliant and outstanding, a game we deserved to win and on any other day we would have won."

Tottenham held 57% of the possession while taking 13 shots on goal, with just four on target. Newcastle had 43% of the possession, but had more shots: 14 on goal, with four on target.

---

Ange Postecoglou opens up about Joelinton handball in Tottenham's loss to Newcastle

Ange Postecoglou has opened up about the handball from Joelinton, which eventually led to Newcastle scoring the equalizer. It was arguably unintentional as the ball hit the forward's arm from close range, but this did not make the hosts feel any better about conceding the goal.

The Tottenham manager refused to get drawn into criticizing the referees or raising questions about the rules, instead stating (via football.london):

"I know what everyone wants me to say, but all I'll say is that on any other day, on a fair and even playing ground, we would have won that game. Simple as that. Don't keep asking me about the decision.

"If you guys have no opinion about it that's fine. I know what my opinion is and, as I said, if that was a different day and it was an even and fair playing ground we would have won that game."

Tottenham Hotspur will return to the pitch in midweek (January 8) for their first semi-final clash against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup. The last time they faced the Reds, the Premier League match ended in a 6-3 loss for Spurs on December 22.