Bruno Guimaraes apologises as Eddie Howe encounters dreaded Steve Bruce 'grenade' at Newcastle

Newcastle United's shell-shocked players almost looked relieved when referee Martin Atkinson finally put them out of their misery at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium following Sunday's 5-1 defeat against Spurs. Some of these individuals had fond memories of smash-and-grab results in this very arena in years gone by, but they won't be in a rush to watch this mauling back in the analysis room.

'Bad day' was the succinct verdict of watching part-owner Mehrdad Ghodoussi after a result and second-half performance no one saw coming. Even substitute Bruno Guimaraes felt the need to apologise.

Ahead of this game, Eddie Howe warned that his side were still in a relegation battle despite being nine points clear of the drop zone and this was a timely reminder of why that's the case. Indeed, the manner in which the Magpies capitulated after going in front at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was worrying.

Fabian Schar had given the visitors a precious lead with a curling free-kick in the 39th minute, but Newcastle were only ahead for a few minutes after Ben Davies equalised just before the break. If that was a bad time to concede, well, things got a whole lot worse after half-time after Matt Doherty headed Spurs in front in the 48th minute.

Yes, the game became stretched but Newcastle's feeble response to going behind was concerning. Howe's side conceded a further three goals in the space of less than half an hour as Son Heung-Min, Emerson Royal and substitute Steven Bergwijn all got in on the act.

As clinical as Spurs were in the second half, even Antonio Conte would not have foreseen Newcastle's implosion when the score was level at the break. Newcastle, after all, had not conceded more than a goal in any of their previous 11 Premier