EXPRESS
Interim boss Cristian Stellini shook things up in the Tottenham ranks after their 3-2 defeat to Bournemouth last time out. For the first time in what seems like an eternity, the Lilywhites deviated from ex-manager Antonio Conte’s preferred back-five by selecting only four defenders.
Rose applauded the decision before kick-off, but it did not take long for it to backfire in emphatic fashion as Newcastle became the first Premier League side in well over a decade to go 3-0 up inside nine minutes.
Jacob Murphy’s brace was supplemented by Joelinton, and although the visitors held out for another 10 minutes, in-form striker Alexander Isak came up with two more quickfire goals to put Newcastle five to the good with plenty of the first half still to play.
Analysing the match at half-time, Rose was challenged on his praise for Stellini’s tactical adjustments. “Jamie [Redknapp] told me you have to have the right personnel to play a back four so I was wrong there,” he told Sky Sports.
He went on to suggest that, despite being unattached after leaving Watford last year, he would have been good enough to sure up his former club’s wayward back-line.
