Stylish Spurs sink Magpies

Given's efforts are to no avail as Spurs go 2-0 up

Newcastle 0-2 Tottenham
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Spurs clinched a rare Premiership victory at St James' Park, courtesy of two early goals.

The Londoners took full advantage of a slow start by Newcastle, who were having trouble adjusting to a new formation.

And, although Newcastle rallied in the second half, resolute defending by Spurs meant they never looked like losing their grip on the game.

  St James' Park action

7 mins: Anderton's deflected shot puts Spurs ahead

19 mins: Poyet heads Spurs 2-0 up

23 mins: Bellamy booked for dissent

71 mins: Spurs' Freund booked

Newcastle boss Bobby Robson dispensed with his side's usual 4-4-2 system, switching to 3-5-2 to combat Spurs' fluid passing game.

But his tactical ploy was undone within 20 minutes as Spurs raced ahead.

Laurent Robert looked uncomfortable in his new left-wing-back role and the visitors were quick to exploit this weakness.

It was Robert's trip on Mauricio Taricco near his own corner flag that led to Spurs' seventh-minute opener.

From the resulting free-kick, Christian Ziege found Darren Anderton completey unmarked just inside the area.

Anderton fired in a shot that was blocked but the ball fell back at his feet.

We got off to an awful start, they were able to defend comfortably and counter-attack

Bobby Robson
Newcastle boss

His instant left-foot attempt was then diverted by Gary Speed's outstretched leg past the helpless Shay Given.

A slick passing move again exposed the Magpies' vulnerability on 19 minutes.

Teddy Sheringham combined neatly with Taricco to find Anderton in space on the Newcastle left.

His deep cross was met by Gustavo Poyet, whose text-book lob-header back across goal easily beat Given.

Newcastle nearly got back into the game on the stroke of half time.

Robert pushed forward on the left, his pace taking him past Taricco.

The ball broke to Craig Bellamy, who fired in a cross that caused confusion in the Tottenham defence.

It was a little bit scary in the second half

Teddy Sheringham

Dean Richards' clearance only reached the penalty spot and goalkeeper Neil Sullivan was slow to gather the ball as Speed challenged.

The Magpies improved in the second half, and the tireless running of Bellamy posed Spurs problems.

The Wales international spurned his side's best chance on 86 minutes.

His pace took him away from Ledley King and into the box, but his attempt to chip the ball over the on rushing Sullivan went well wide.

However, Spurs' incisive passing movements meant they continued to create chances of their own.

Substitute Sergei Rebrov missed the best of them when clean through, and Sheringham rattled the crossbar with a free-kick.

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Newcastle: Given, O'Brien, Distin, Dabizas, Solano, Acuna, Speed, Hughes, Robert, Shearer, Bellamy. Subs: Elliott, Bassedas, Harper, Lua-Lua, Ameobi.

Tottenham: Sullivan, Perry, King, Richards, Taricco, Anderton, Poyet, Freund, Ziege, Ferdinand, Sheringham. Subs: Keller, Sherwood, Rebrov, Thatcher, Davies.

Referee: A Wiley (Burntwood)

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