Tottenham manager Thomas Frank praised captain Cristian Romero for delivering a “top performance,” as his two goals earned a 2-2 draw against Newcastle.
The Magpies created several promising chances during the match before Bruno Guimarães put them in front in the 71st minute.
Romero responded just seven minutes later, scoring with a spectacular diving header from Mohammed Kudus’ cross, but Anthony Gordon quickly restored Newcastle’s lead with a penalty.
In a thrilling conclusion, Romero secured a point for Spurs by netting a stunning overhead kick during the fifth minute of stoppage time, which made its way into the bottom corner.
Commenting on Romero’s performance, Frank stated: “That was a perfect bicycle kick, struck with the shin, directed towards the bottom corner. He deserves praise for his top-notch defending, and his composure on the ball was impressive—he handled duels well and then went up to score two goals.”
Frank added that while the bicycle kick may get more accolades, he believes the diving header was even more remarkable, showcasing superior technique compared to many strikers.
Despite the draw, which leaves Spurs winless in their last five Premier League matches as they sit in 11th place, Frank highlighted the resilience of his side after a challenging series of games.
He remarked: “I appreciated the character and mentality displayed by the team, especially after three tough matches. To go away for the fourth game in ten days against a challenging opponent, to go behind twice and come back reflects the team’s willingness and mentality.”
After Newcastle had equalized to 1-1, they regained the lead via a penalty when Rodrigo Bentancur and Dan Burn clashed at the back post from a corner. Referee Tom Bramall reviewed the play and awarded a penalty, which Gordon successfully converted.
Frank expressed disappointment about the penalty, stating: “The second goal was particularly frustrating because I believe it shouldn’t have been given. Even some from Newcastle have mentioned they didn’t see it as a penalty, so we need consistency in such decisions.”
While acknowledging the referee’s judgment on the pitch, he noted: “VAR can intervene only in clear and obvious cases, but my focus is on our team’s mentality in bouncing back.”
Newcastle’s coach Eddie Howe conveyed that the two goals surrendered were “hugely disappointing” given their strong performance throughout the match. He remarked: “We felt we were the dominant side, making significant efforts for our first goal. To concede twice in the manner we did is extremely disappointing because we pride ourselves on better defensive play.”
When asked about the penalty decision, Howe said: “I’ve just watched it again; the defender wasn’t looking at the ball—his focus was solely on Dan, who went down, so I understand why it was awarded.”