Clark takes the positives from opening day defeat

The Magpies were beaten at St. James’ Park on Saturday, as Dele Alli’s header won it for the visitors.

Jan Vertonghen’s header gave Spurs an early lead, but Joselu glanced home a quickfire leveller for United before Alli struck.

After the break, United rallied and chances came and went for Mo Diamé, who struck the upright, Kenedy and Salomón Rondón, whose deflected effort came back off the crossbar with five minutes remaining.

Despite the final score, Clark feels there were some good signs from his team, as attentions turn to next weekend’s trip to Cardiff City.

“I thought we did well to get the equaliser and get ourselves back in the game, and then it was a good ball in for their second one. It was obviously a little bit sloppy, and it was a bit of a killer going in 2-1 down especially after we did well to get back into it,” the 28-year-old told nufc.co.uk.

“But we showed good attitude and good character in the second half. We created a lot of chances there and were pretty unlucky not to get another goal.

“We had a number of chances and they had a bit of the ball but we put a good press on them. We were nicking the ball off them and getting chances, so we’ll take the positives out of that, definitely. It’s a disappointing result in the end, but that’s football sometimes. We created chances, and it could have been a different story on a different day.

“We’ll take the positives out of that and hopefully put that right next week against Cardiff.”

While Rafa Benítez’s side carved out plenty of openings, it was crosses at the other end which proved their undoing against Mauricio Pochettino’s men.

And Clark feels there are lessons to be learned from the goals the Magpies conceded on Saturday.

“The first one was a set piece and when we look back at that we’ll think that’s a bit sloppy from us, to be honest,” said the Republic of Ireland international. “Just after we’d scored they went and got the second one, and that’s more concentration than anything really.

“But it’s just one of those things, and we need to learn from that. We did brilliantly second half, created a lot of chances and really had them on the back foot – other than Moussa (Sissoko)’s chance which Martin (Dúbravka) saved, I can’t really remember too many other chances they had. We’re disappointed, but we’ll take the positives out of that.”