As half-time beckoned, the start of Newcastle United’s new Saudi Arabian-led era and the sight of Tottenham’s Harry Kane scoring a rather good goal faded into insignificance. As Nuno Espírito Santo’s side prepared to take a corner, a spectator collapsed in the East Stand and the abiding memory of a rather strange afternoon on Gallowgate will be the sight of Sergio Reguilón telling his teammates to abandon that set piece as he and Eric Dier alerted the referee to the emergency unfolding behind them.
Dier then raced to the technical area, demanding that someone bring a defibrillator, and his quick thinking merits praise. As Paul Catterson, Newcastle’s club doctor, ran across the pitch with the requested equipment, the seriousness of the situation sank in and an eerie hush descended.
