Tottenham Hotspur rooted to the bottom as 1974-75 record returns

Tottenham Hotspur’s difficult start to the new Premier League season deepened on Saturday as they lost 2-0 to Newcastle United, leaving them without a point or a goal after their opening two matches.

The defeat was Tottenham’s second in succession and sent them to the bottom of the table. Newcastle United moved up to third with four points from their first two games.

The result has revived concerns among Tottenham supporters after the club escaped the threat of relegation last season. Their opening sequence is also the first time since the 1974-75 campaign that Tottenham have lost their first two league matches without scoring, according to Opta.

That statistical record underlines the scale of the early setback. Tottenham have yet to find the net in the new Premier League campaign and have taken nothing from either of their opening fixtures, leaving Roberto De Zerbi with an immediate challenge to halt the slide.

Saturday’s loss at Newcastle United means there is already pressure on the manager to restore balance to a side that has made a completely unproductive start. Tottenham must now find attacking solutions as well as a way to stop the run of defeats if they are to move away from the foot of the table.

The comparison with 1974-75 will be particularly unwelcome for a club whose supporters were already anxious after last season’s relegation danger. On that previous occasion, Tottenham also began their league campaign with two defeats and no goals scored.

This time, the unwanted sequence has been repeated at the start of a new Premier League season. The immediate consequences are clear: Tottenham remain pointless, have not scored, and sit last after two rounds, while Newcastle United have established themselves in third place with four points.

For De Zerbi, the task is to ensure the poor opening does not develop into a longer crisis. The next priority is to give Tottenham a greater attacking threat and end the run of negative results before the early damage becomes more difficult to repair.

The 2-0 scoreline at Newcastle United therefore carries significance beyond a single defeat. It leaves Tottenham facing an early test of their ability to respond, while the return of a record last seen in the 1974-75 season has added to the unease surrounding the club.