Barclays Premier League

FT: TOTTENHAM 2 NEWCASTLE 1

Two goals from Gareth Bale give Tottenham an important victory that lifts them above Chelsea into third place for a couple of hours at least. There only looked one winner in the opening quarter as Spurs carved open the Tynesiders' defence time after time. But they only had the one goal to show for their enterprise and that came on five minutes when Clint Dempsey was felled by Fabricio Coloccini and Bale lifted a free-kick effortlessly over the wall and into the corner of the net. At that stage, there looked only one winner. But buoyed by two successive wins and their influx of fresh talent, Newcastle stuck to their task and clawed their way back into the game. Papiss Cisse headed wide from a great position before the visitors levelled on 24 minutes, Yoan Gouffran's shot finding the net via a deflection off Michael Dawson. The second half was not as thilling as the first, but with Bale in their line-up Spurs always have a chance. The mercurial Welshman nipped in front of Coloccini with 12 minutes left and carried the ball goalwards before steering a shot under Tim Krul. He was denied a hat-trick by a fine save from the visiting goalkeeper in the closing stages. Newcastle showed plenty of heart, but they will be anxious to hear news of Gouffran, who was carried off in the second half with a shin injury.

BAD MISS BY BALE

Bale then sees a ricochet saved by Krul before lifting the rebound over with his right foot from six yards. Moments later Krul makes another magnificent save to deny Bale again.

NEWCASTLE BOOKING

Shola Ameobi is cautioned for a late tackle on Dawson.

AMEOBI DENIED

Newcastle almost snatch an equaliser. Amoebi sneaks in down the inside-left channel, but is denied by an excellent stop from Lloris at his near post.

TOTTENHAM SUBSTITUTION

Dembele limps off to be replaced by Jake Livermore. Cabaye apologises for that dreadful earlier tackle which did the damage as the former Fulham man heads for the touchline.

SEVEN MINUTES OF STOPPAGE TIME

With that earlier injury to Gouffran we will have seven (yes, seven) minutes of added time.

NEWCASTLE BOOKING

A late challenge by Cabaye on Dembele earns him a deserved yellow card.

BALE DENIED A HAT-TRICK

Spurs break from their own half and Bale has a glorious chance to grab his hat-trick. The powerful left-foot shot is expertly tipped over by Krul.

NEWCASTLE SUBSTITUTION

Newcastle throw on Shola Ameobi for Gutierrez as they look to snatch a point.

GOLDEN CHANCE WASTED

Krul makes a real mess of a right-wing corner, but with the goal at his mercy Caulker sees the ball strike his shoulder and go wide. Tiote is on for Perch for Newcastle.

LENNON THREATENS A THIRD

Adebayor puts Lennon through, but he hesitates for a second and Coloccini is there to rob him. That would have been game over.

GOAL: TOTTENHAM 2 NEWCASTLE 1

Gareth Bale gets to the ball ahead of Coloccini and outpaces Steven Taylor before keeping his cool to steer a low shot under Krul.

IMPORTANT BLOCK BY TAYLOR

Bale carries the ball to the edge of the Newcastle area. His right-footed effort is heading for goal, but Taylor gets an important foot in the way. Cabaye shoots powerfully but too high at the other end.

SPURS SUBSTITUTION

Spurs make another change, with Benoit Assou-Ekotto replacing Naughton at left-back.

LOOKING TO MAKE HISTORY

Newcastle's victory against Chelsea last weekend was the first time in 27 months that they'd come from behind to win a league game. Now they have the chance to do it twice in eight days.

ON THE WAY TO HOSPITAL

Gouffran has been taken to a local hospital for a precautionary X-ray on that damaged shin, we are being told.

TOTTENHAM SUBSTITUTION

Here comes the switch for Spurs. It's Adebayor for Holtby.

BALE RECEIVES TREATMENT

A delightful first-time pass sprayed by Cabaye out to Debuchy looks promising for Newcastle. The cross, though, is wayward. Bale goes down under a challenge from Perch and needs treatment on the sidelines.

ADEBAYOR WAITING IN THE WINGS

Adebayor is warming up on the touchline. He might not appreciate the grim weather here in London, but at least the pitch is grass, not like some of the appalling beach-like surfaces teams have had to play on in the African Nations Cup.

COLOCCINI IMPRESSING

Bale collects the ball after another impressive break from Lennon, but again Coloccini is the man to repel the attack. The Argentine appears to be taking on Spurs' frontline singlehandedly at the moment.

ALERT TO THE DANGER

Lennon works a nice one-two down the Spurs right, but Coloccini is alert to the danger and cuts out the pass intended for Dempsey.

IN SEARCH OF A SECOND

If Newcastle can find the net in the second half it will be the first time since losing 4-2 to Chelsea on Oct. 20 that Tottenham have allowed more than one goal in a match at White Hart Lane.

NEWCASTLE SUBSTITUTION

Gouffran's day is done. He is carried off on the aforementioned stretcher and Sylvain Marveaux comes on in his place.

STRETCHER FOR GOUFFRAN

Gouffran appears in great pain after catching a challenge from Walker on the shin. The stretcher is on.

EASY FOR KRUL

Dempsey takes an ambitious pot-shot from all of 30 yards, but that's easy for Krul, especially with no Defoe sniffing around in case of handling errors from the goalkeeper.

EFFORT FROM TAYLOR

Bale only half-clears a corner to the edge of the box. Taylor lifts a shot goalwards, but Lloris gathers comfortably in the centre of his goal.

DISAPPOINTING CROSS

Newcastle break impressively down the right, but Caulker charges down the cross from Gutierrez with Cabaye screaming for the ball at the back post.

PUTTING HIMSELF ABOUT

Scott Parker's a man on a mission here. He's already clattered Gutierrez and Cabaye in the opening exchanges of the second half.

SPURS ON THE FRONT FOOT

Spurs make a lively start to the half again, but Lennon's dangerous cross to the near post is cut out by Taylor. Walker then makes inroads, but is caught in two minds and his delivery as a consequence is woeful.

HERE WE GO AGAIN

Newcastle get the second half under way.

HT: TOTTENHAM 1 NEWCASTLE 1

There's nothing to choose between the sides at half-time in what has been a thoroughly absorbing first 45 minutes at White Hart Lane. Spurs were on fire from the off. Clint Dempsey was just inches away from getting on the end of a Gareth Bale cross with barely a minute gone before the Welshman broke the deadlock himself with a free-kick placed perfectly over the defensive wall and into the corner. The Toon were reeling for the first quarter of an hour, but they could have levelled through Papiss Cisse, who headed wide after escaping his marker to meet a cross from the left by Fabricio Coloccini. Spurs mounted attack after attack without being able to find the finish, but it was Newcastle who levelled out of nowhere on 24 minutes, with Yoan Gouffran's strike from the edge of the area deflecting in off the back of Michael Dawson. From the moment they drew level Newcastle's new-found confidence was restored and now it is extremely difficult to predict who will come out on top in the second half. It's perfectly poised - just the way we like it.

WELL WIDE FROM DEMPSEY

Dembele weaves his way past one lunging tackle and feeds Dempsey, who drags a disappointing shot well wide from 25 yards. One minute of added time.

BREAKAWAY PETERS OUT

It's just not happened for Spurs in the last 20 minutes or so. I expected Gareth Bale to run riot after that sizzling start, but Newcastle have done well to keep him in check since. Newcastle break quickly, but Debuchy's pass is wayward.

COULD YOU TRANSLATE, PLEASE

Referee Phil Dowd has a quick word with Gouffran, with Cabaye acting as his interpreter. There will be a lot of scenes like that over the coming weeks with the Toon's French foreign legion.

BODIES ON THE LINE

Cabaye tries his luck from 30 yards, but Parker and Dawson do magnificently to throw their bodies in the way of the shot.

RARE HOME GOAL FOR BALE

That early goal for Bale was his 12th of the season, but only his third at White Hart Lane.

CHANCE SPURNED BY LENNON

Walker's corner misses everyone and catches the unmarked Lennon flat-footed beyond the far post. The England man hadn't counted on Coloccini totally missing his clearing header.

NOW THE TOON ARE ON TOP

It's incredible how the feeling of this game has changed. Suddenly Newcastle are resurgent and playing with all the confidence of a side that's looking for a third successive victory.

PENALTY CLAIMS

A cross from the right by Lennon catches Santon on the arm, but the officials turn a blind eye. That was more of a penalty than the one conceded by England's Jack Wilshere against Brazil on Wednesday.

GOAL: TOTTENHAM 1 NEWCASTLE 1

Newcastle are level out of nowhere. Cisse collects a pass from Coloccini and pulls it back for Gouffran, whose drive from 20 yards hits the back of Dawson and arrows into the corner.

CHANCES AT BOTH ENDS

Cisse catches Caulker snoozing in the middle and leaves his marker to meet a cross from Coloccini with a header that drifts just wide of the upright. Spurs come back with another attack, Lennon pulls it back for Holtby, who is too high again with his shot.

WIDE FROM HOLTBY

Newcastle are starting to get a little foothold in this game and win themselves a corner. Bale clears awkwardly from Cabaye, but it is not long before Spurs are on the attack again and Holtby screws a shot wide of the post.

WELL WIDE FROM BALE

A poor goal-kick from Krul almost leads to more problems for the visitors, but Bale drags an instinctive first-time shot well wide of the target.

LENNON WORKING HARD

Newcastle show rare attacking menace, but Gouffran is robbed of the ball inside the area by a lunging tackle from Aaron Lennon. Yes, that's right, Lennon. Total football from AVB's men!

PILING ON THE PRESSURE

It's hard not to see Newcastle getting a good hiding from here. Their defence looks understandably nervy, while Spurs look dangerous every time they go forward.

HOLTBY JUST OVER

Lennon is robbed of the ball, but it rolls kindly to Holtby, who lifts a 20-yard angled effort over the top.

NOT A LOFTY PERCH

To jump in the wall or not, that is the question? Looking at the replay for that Bale goal, Perch stood stock still. Had he even just got up on tip-toes the ball would have hit the top of his head and deflected to safety.

UNHAPPY HUNTING GROUND

Spurs have lost on their last three trips to White Hart Lane, conceding eight goals and failing to find the net themselves. History appears to be repeating itself.

GOAL: TOTTENHAM 1 NEWCASTLE 0

Coloccini is lucky to escape a yellow card for a lunging tackle, but Spurs have a free-kick in an excellent attacking position. Bale dinks it over the wall and into the corner. He made that look so easy!

DEMPSEY INCHES AWAY

Dempsey almost has an early goal to show for his efforts. He is just inches away from getting on the end of a wonderful low cross from Bale. Santon clears, gratefully.

DEMPSEY THE TEAM MAN

Clint Dempsey has rushed back from playing for the United States against Honduras to take his place in the Spurs starting line-up, unlike Emmanuel Adebayor, who made his way back at a more leisurely pace from the African Nations Cup.

HERE WE GO

Spurs kick off, attacking the goal to our left.

TEAM NEWS

Spurs make three changes to the side that won at West Brom. In come Kyle Naughton , Steven Caulker and Lewis Holtby. Out go Benoit Assou-Ekotto, Jan Vertonghen and Jermain Defoe. Emmanuel Adebayor is only on the bench. Newcastle are unchanged from the side that won against Chelsea.

STARTING LINE-UPS

Tottenham: Lloris, Walker, Dawson, Caulker, Naughton, Lennon, Parker, Dembele, Holtby, Dempsey, Bale. Subs: Friedel, Vertonghen, Gallas, Assou-Ekotto, Sigurdsson, Livermore, Adebayor. Newcastle: Krul, Debuchy, Coloccini, S. Taylor, Debuchy, Perch, Cabaye, Sissoko, Gutierrez, Gouffran, Cisse. Subs: Harper, Yanga-Mbiwa, Anita, Marveaux, Tiote, Obertan, Shola Ameobi.

PREVIEW

On this corresponding Saturday a year ago Tottenham demolished Newcastle 5-0 at White Hart Lane to cap one of the most remarkable weeks in the colourful life of Harry Redknapp. The then Spurs manager had been cleared of tax evasion charges earlier in the week and sat back contentedly as two Louis Saha goals spurred the North Londoners to one of their most dominant league displays in years. Much of the post-match coverage talked about how difficult it would be for Redknapp to leave the Lane to become England manager. Four months later Harry would indeed part company with Spurs, but the move was not of his choosing as he was axed after the club's failure to achieve Champions League football. That massacre of Newcastle took Spurs ten points clear of Arsenal and Chelsea in third place but proved to be something of a Tyne tease. Because three straight defeats followed, part of a dismal run which would see just one win in nine matches. It was a stunning turn of events and a stark reminder of how quickly things can change in football. Alan Pardew needs no reminding about how fickle this game can be. After flirting with the Champions League places last season, a year on Newcastle have had all they can handle just to avoid getting dragged down into the relegation dogfight. They did themselves and Tottenham a huge favour last weekend by staging a remarkable recovery to beat Chelsea 3-2, with Demba Ba getting a bang on the nose on his return to Tyneside just a welcome bonus not to be sniffed at. Pardew brought in an influx of foreign talent last month to reinvigorate his jaded squad and it looks to have done the trick. Whether it will be enough to see Newcastle take anything away from a trip to in-form Spurs is questionable in the extreme. Today's game kicks off at 1245GMT, so join us around 30 minutes beforehand when we should have the confirmed team news, which will be followed by a match commentary.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Spurs frontman Emmanuel Adebayor is just back from helping his side reach the semi-finals of the African Nations Cup and is bound to be a little jaded at all the travelling, though watching his side's exit to Burkino Faso in midweek he may still have something in the tank. Adebayor was unstoppable in this fixture last season, creating four first-half goals for his team-mates before helping himself to one in the second half. If the former Arsenal man is omitted, then Gareth Bale will again be looking to cause mayhem from an advanced central attacking position, just as he did last weekend with that stunning winner at West Brom. Newcastle have a new hero in Moussa Sissoko, the 23-year-old Frenchman who scored twice on his debut against Chelsea last weekend. Even Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas couldn't help but be impressed with the additions to the Newcastle squad in the January transfer window, particularly last week's match-winner. “Sissoko was a great grab,” he said. “A couple of years ago he was being linked with the top clubs in the world and to get him at such a low price was a massive coup for them.”

HEAD TO HEAD

Tottenham have the better head-to-head record in league meetings between the sides with 57 wins to 48 by Newcastle and 30 games being drawn. At White Hart Lane, Spurs have 36 wins to 20 by Newcastle, with a further 11 meetings ending up all square. Newcastle won the earlier meeting between the sides at St James' Park 2-1 on Aug. 18 and are looking to complete their first league double over Tottenham since the 2007-08 season. None of the three scorers back in August will be on show today. Demba Ba has gone to pastures new and Hatem Ben Arfa and Jermain Defoe are both out injured. The corresponding match last season on Feb. 11 saw Spurs rout the Tynesiders 5-0 with goals from Benoit Assou-Ekotto (4 minutes), Louis Saha (6 and 20), Niko Kranjcar (34) and Emmanuel Adebayor (64).

FORM GUIDE

Spurs sit in fourth place, with 45 points from 25 games, one point behind third-placed Chelsea, who host Wigan later in the day. They have gone nine unbeaten since that last-gasp defeat at Everton on Dec. 9 and have not lost at home since the shock reverse to Wigan on Nov. 3. Newcastle are in 15th position with 27 points, six clear of the clubs in the relegation zone. The Toon are fresh off back-to-back victories against Aston Villa and Chelsea having won just twice in their previous 14 outings. That 2-1 triumph at Villa Park was their first away win of the season at the 12th attempt.

EARLY TEAM NEWS

Spurs must decide whether to hand an instant recall to Emmanuel Adebayor following his return from the African Nations Cup. Jermain Defoe is out for three weeks with the ankle injury he suffered at The Hawthorns last weekend, Sandro is sidelined for the season with a knee injury but Younes Kaboul is almost over his knee injury and could be ready for a return in a couple of weeks. Newcastle have influential midfielder Cheick Tiote available again after representing Ivory Coast at the African Nations Cup, but Hatem Ben Arfa is now not likely to return until the end of the month having suffered a virus which has further set back his recovery following a hamstring injury.

MAN IN THE MIDDLE

Taking charge of today's game is Phil Dowd, who has been a member of the elite panel of Premier League referees since 2001. The man from Stoke-on-Trent showed 105 yellow cards in 28 games last season, the second most among Premier League officials, but has only managed 48 in 16 outings this season. He got an early red card under his belt on the opening day of the season with the second-half dismissal of Liverpool defender Daniel Agger at West Brom, but since then has only sent off one player, Aston Villa defender Joe Bennett for two bookable offences in the home draw with Norwich back at the end of October. Dowd's last two top-flight encounters have both ended in goalless draws. His assistants today are Simon Long and Gary Beswick, while Lee Probert is the fourth official.