BBC Radio 5 Live final whistle match report

Substitute Steffan Iversen came off the bench to give George Graham a win in his first home game in charge of Tottenham - despite a late sending off for the home side.

The Norwegian striker replaced Les Ferdinand after the England international limped off after 18 minutes.

Five minutes before half time he beat Shay Given to hand Spurs a 1-0 lead.

Chris Armstrong congratulates team-mate Steffan Iversen

Then, on 76 minutes he got clear of the Newcastle defence to secure the home side's lead.

Colin Calderwood was sent off for two bookings with four minutes to go, but Spurs held on comfortably.

Colin Calderwood talks to Ian Payne

Tottenham are undoubtedly still well short of the finished article envisaged by Graham, yet their performance was full of enthusiasm and commitment, with David Ginola tackling back as well as taking on defenders and Justin Edinburgh growing in maturity as the match went on.

At one point, there were stirrings of a Tottenham version of the Arsenal theme tune as the fans crowed, "We're Spurs and we're 1-0 up."

Yet it was certainly a low-key introduction for Graham, who quietly took his seat in the directors' box at the start of the game and was an impassioned figure in the dugout in the second-half as he barked out his instructions.

Despite not yet having made any of his intended signings Graham firmly put his imprint on the Spurs line-up after their 2-1 defeat at Leicester last Monday night.

He dropped much-criticised centre-back Ramon Vega, bringing in John Scales for his first appearance since last December - ironically former boss Christian Gross' first home game in charge, a 6-1 defeat by Chelsea.

In central midfield, hard-tackling Dane Allan Nielsen came in to partner Calderwood, while Chris Armstrong initially partnered Ferdinand up front.

Iversen's goal clearly shocked United - but Alan Shearer was given an opportunity to equalise.

On the stroke of half-time, Shearer broke through but was put off by a last-ditch tackle from Justin Edinburgh.

And with Stephane Guivarc'h and Gary Speed on for Dalglish and Stephen Glass, the visitors proved a far more potent attacking force in the second half.

But, just as Newcastle looked to be getting back into the game, Iversen struck a second time.

The Norwegian international had placed a lob well over shortly before, but with 14 minutes left, he calmly finished past Given after intercepting a suicidal back-pass from full-back Griffin.

Tottenham

Baardsen, Carr, Calderwood, Nielsen, Anderton, Ferdinand, Armstrong, Edinburgh, Ginola, Scales, Campbell. Subs: Walker, Fox, Vega, Iversen, Clemence.

Newcastle

Given, Griffin, Pearce, Charvet, Serrant, Lee, Solano, Batty, Glass, Shearer, Dalglish. Subs: Perez, Guivarc'h, Speed, Barton, Hughes.