HE kept a firm eye on the ball before attempting to volley it past Newcastle keeper Martin Dubravka.
Embarrassingly and worringly, Harry Kane delivered a quite spectacular miskick and you had to wonder what else could go wrong for Tottenham.
No trophies and - at that moment - it looked like possibly no Champions League next season.
All that was missing at that moment was for Daniel Levy to receive a phone call from the White Hart lane site manager to announce that someone had nicked all of the cranes.
Yet while Kane’s glaring miss came five minutes before half-time, it was exactly the same time after the break that Kane reminded everyone – despite the fact he has not looked fully fit – that that he is a bloody good striker.
And that effort, his 28th Premier League goal of the season and 39th in all competitions, ensured that Spurs will be once again in the Champions League next season.
With seven minutes of this game remaining, the celebrations started when news filtered through of Chelsea’s draw with Huddersfield.
The second cheer came when the result appeared on the scoreboards.
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It means the Sunday’s final home game against Leicester will be relatively meaningless, something Spurs’ fans – petrified their team were about to deliver an almighty cock-up – will be extremely grateful for.
Against a decent Newcastle side, it was certainly another Spursy performance from Maurcio Pochettino’s team who have ended the season so nervously.
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The sooner this season ends for Tottenham the better even though another top four spot for the club is reasonable.
Boss Pochettino claims this is an “amazing” and that is not really the case. A trophy is amazing.
And as last night proved, the club has to improve on its poor recruitment from last summer with Davinson Sanchez the only arrival in the last 12 months to start.
Pochettino switched to a back four after an unimpressive showing from his three-man defence in the 1-0 loss to West Brom on Saturday.
Tottenham started confidently, with Christian Eriksen’s decent free-kick being pushed away by keeper Dubravka, but their intensity soon dropped and Newcastle were reasonably comfortable.
Although the scores were level at half-time, Newcastle could easily have led by a couple.
Although they had lost their previous three games, Rafa Benitez’s team looked solid at the back, Jonjo Shelvey once again impressed in midfield and they looked dangerous on the counter attack.
Shelvey’s cracking effort smacked against the outside of the post with home keeper Hugo Lloris was nowhere near it.
Yet Tottenham’s French keeper saved his team with a spectacular save as he flung himself to the right, keeping out a powerful header from Jamaal Lascelles
Jan Vertonghen suffered a poor game and after being caught out again, Ayoze Perez crossed for Dwight Gayle but he wasted a his header from a decent position.
Kane delivered a shot which saw the ball remain in play while Vertongen hammered an effort straight at Dubravka.
When England star Kane was presented with a golden chance, the opportunity to ease Tottenham’s nerves, he completely missed his kick
While Pochettino may argue otherwise, Kane definitely came back from his ankle injury a couple of weeks too early.
There were a few jeers from the Tottenham fans when Neil Swarbrick blew his whistle for half-time and it was all threatening to go horribly wrong.
Pochettino would have expected a reaction and he certainly got that – from Kane in particular.
Not having the best games, Dele Alli fed Kane who then played a delightful one-two with Heung-Min Son, culminating with a brilliant , first-time shot from just inside the area.
Equally, Gareth Southgate – who names his England squad next week – will have been relieved with the sight of his best player scoring a goal of such great quality.
Southgate should be more worried about Alli’s performances and the Spurs midfielder should have made Dubravka work harder with an effort.
Yet it could have been so much worse for Newcastle who, to their credit, refused to go away.
Just seconds after coming on as a substitute, Jacob Murphy will feel he should have levelled. After comfortably getting past Sanchez, he was unable to keep his effort on target.
There more uncomfortable moments for Spurs and it was only when Chelsea’s result came through when Pochettino’s team began to settle, even though Danny Rosemissed a sitter.
But once again, Spurs will do battle with Europe's finest and not for the first time, it was all thanks to Kane.
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