Sammy Ameobi defined “super sub” by scoring eight seconds into the second half and fellow relief man Remy Cabella set up the winner for Ayoze Perez to give Newcastle respite out of the relegation zone.
Emmanuel Adebayor had put Spurs in front on 18 minutes, and they held that lead to the break but couldn’t ramp back to match speed after the break as Alan Pardew’s changed rang loud and clear.
Spurs started on the front foot and held it throughout the first half, with creative touches and attacking intent. Newcastle had neither.
Emmanuel Adebayor deservedly put Tottenham in front just before the 20-minute mark when a few blocked shots eventually fell to Ryan Mason outside the box, and instead of smashing on goal from a distance and angle, he floated a pinpoint cross to the far post for a few waiting white shirts, and Adebayor took charge to powerfully headed the ball into the back of the net for a 1-0 lead.
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Newcastle were erratic throughout the first half, and produced little on goal. In fact, as the half wore on they were less and less incisive and failed to hold the ball with any threatening intent. They had one opportunity on 37 minutes but Moussa Sissoko in space at the top of the box held the ball too long and was dispossessed by Eric Dier.
As the half wore down Spurs had some opportunities in added time. Adebayor was the recipient of a break but his chest down was too strong. As our friends at Opta point out, the Togo international has enjoyed taking on Newcastle.
4 - Emmanuel Adebayor has netted four times in his last four Premier League games against Newcastle. Pest.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 26, 2014
But Newcastle would attone for the entire first 45 minutes just seconds into the second half. Dier was flat-footed to start the half, and halftime substitute Sammy Ameobi scythed past the Spurs defender on the wing to score a stunning eight seconds into the second half, shocking White Hart Lane.
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The game ripped open from here, and Spurs failed to bag a few chances before Newcastle yet again stunned the home crowd. Substitute Remy Cabella got the ball from Sissoko on the wing and lifted in a cross which Ayoze Perez lifted high to reach and head home.
Spurs brought on Harry Kane to try and get back into the match, and straight away they had the ball in the back of the net on a corner, but the assistant referee raised his flag to indicate the ball flung out of play on the delivery and the ‘keeper own-goal was ruled out.
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The home side had little left to defend its fortress, despite the positive influence of Kane on the attack. The substitute flashed a slicing ball across the face of goal in stoppage time but nobody was there to connect to the ball. Roberto Soldado also came on near the end and had a chance at a volley of great difficulty, but couldn’t hit the target, sending it just wide.
The win pulls Newcastle off the bottom three - all the way up to 13th - and sends Sunderland into the drop zone. Meanwhile Spurs flounders down to 11th as Everton leap-frog them with a win at Burnley.
LINEUPS:
Tottenham Hotspur: Lloris; Dier, Kaboul, Vertonghen, Rose; Capoue (Kane 67'), Mason; Chadli, Eriksen, Lamela (Lennon 77'); Adebayor (Soldado 83').
Goals: Adebayor 18'
Newcastle United: Krul; Janmaat, S.Taylor, Coloccini, Dummett; Sissoko, Anita (Cabella 46'), Colback, Obertan (Ameobi 46'); Perez (Haidara 79'), Gouffran.
Goals: Ameobi 46', Perez 58'