The temptation with away games is always to play to contain the strengths of the opposition: it's not just a Pardew thing, and it's not just a Newcastle thing on the road, it happens at almost every club. Even Jose Mourinho admits to parking the bus to stifle tougher opponents. But Newcastle have been playing like the away team for about a year - since Yohan Cabaye left - seeking possession to over-run the opposition and stop them from playing, rather than playing to the team's own strengths. That usually means that creative players are asked too much to track back, or abandon their instincts to contain their opposite numbers, and it also, fatally, means Newcastle are usually on the back foot. That was the tale of the first half, but Tottenham were a lot smart with the ball, keeping 70% of possession and stopping Newcastle's containment game dead. But then, in the second half, after the changes to bring on more flair and directer players, Newcastle played to their own strengths and looked an entirely different team: for the first time in way too long, looking like a real team.
