Sorry Spurs beaten again

The Magpies took full advantage of some kamikaze defending by the Londoners, who remain rooted inside the relegation zone, to claim all three points despite having to survive a concerted fightback.

Obafemi Martins fired the home side in front on the stroke of half-time after embarrassing Michael Dawson, and the unmarked Claudio Cacapa made it 2-0 six minutes after the break with a powerful header.

Robbie Keane's seventh goal in as many games briefly gave the visitors hope with a 57th-minute strike, but substitute James Milner made sure with a 73rd-minute volley to cement his side's eighth-place standing in front of a crowd of 51,411.

Newcastle had not lost at St James' this season before kick-off, while Spurs had not won outside of London, and the home side almost went in front on 13 minutes when Abdoulaye Faye thumped a header against the post.

Newcastle took the lead when Martins ran away from Michael Dawson to control and fire through the goalkeeper for his fifth goal of the season.

Tottenham emerged after the break in determined fashion but their hopes were severely dented within six minutes when the Magpies increased their lead.

Emre delivered a corner to the near post and Cacapa ran in unopposed to power a header into the back of the net.

But as the home side sensed blood, the visitors grabbed a lifeline when Darren Bent headed a Pascal Chimbonda cross against the post and saw the rebound sit up nicely for Keane to reduce the deficit.

Younes Kaboul was unable to clear his lines and although Milner miskicked his first effort, the ball fell nicely for him to blast a left-foot volley into the bottom corner and end Spurs' hopes of another comeback.