On a night when Tottenham were in dire need of leadership against Newcastle, Pedro Polo proved exactly why Thomas Frank entrusted him with the captain’s armband. The Spaniard has consistently defended Spurs’ position alongside referee Chris Kavanagh following a series of controversial refereeing decisions. Tottenham were at times overwhelmed by emotion at St James’ Park, but Polo guided his team-mates away from the referee.
When the final whistle blew, the dynamic right-back proved once again that he knows what it means to be part of Tottenham. Approximately 5,000 fans took part in the grueling 364-mile round trip and remained in high spirits throughout the night despite the team’s lack of offensive prowess. Some may drive, others pay for train or bus transport, but one thing is for sure: traversing the length of this country on a weeknight after back-to-back away games at Monaco and Everton is a huge effort.
All the Tottenham players could do was show their appreciation after the final whistle, but Randall Kolo Muani and Jed Spence headed for the tunnel prematurely.
Sure, it was a frustrating night and maybe they were on autopilot, but that’s no excuse for the fans who spent their hard-earned money supporting their team.
Mr. Polo quickly spotted the two heading toward the tunnel and motioned for them to return to the group.
St James’s Park was far from quiet, especially after the midweek win, and considering the stadium announcers were also broadcasting over the loudspeakers, you can imagine how loud Polo must have been shouting.
Kolo Muani and Spence eventually staggered back and joined their teammates to applaud the traveling fans.
It may seem like a small gesture, but it means a lot to supporters. Expressing gratitude takes only a moment, but it can make a big difference, especially after a loss.
Tottenham need to make sure they keep their fan base engaged, as despite their current success in the Premier League, Thomas Frank’s side continue to show inconsistency in all competitions.
It is no exaggeration to say that Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Guglielmo Vicario were never allowed to leave the pitch without informing the fans.
So let’s give Polo credit for his efforts in upholding changing room standards on Tyneside.
