Match ends, Newcastle United 0, Tottenham Hotspur 4.
NewcastleNewcastle United0TottenhamTottenham Hotspur4
Emmanuel Adebayor scored twice as Tottenham maintained their challenge for a top-four finish with victory over a Newcastle side short of confidence.
Adebayor put Spurs ahead when he tapped in after Tim Krul had palmed Nabil Bentaleb's cross into his path.
Adebayor was involved in the second, when Krul dived low to stop his shot only for Paulinho to follow up, before grabbing his second with a volley.
Nacer Chadli rounded off the scoring with a brilliant 20-yard curling shot.
The Magpies were barely a threat in the first half before improving marginally after the break, with Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris denying Papiss Cisse, Mathieu Debuchy and Yoan Gouffran with good saves.
But they failed to score for the seventh time in their past eight Premier League matches as they fell to a fourth straight league defeat at St James' Park for the first time since 1987.
Some will cite the departure of Yohan Cabaye and striker Loic Remy's suspension for the run of form that has seen them slip to ninth, but many of the side they fielded on Wednesday had helped them into sixth on Boxing Day.
Spurs, meanwhile, have had an excellent two months and moved to within seven points of leaders Chelsea with this victory.
Since Tim Sherwood took charge in late December, the north London side have won seven and lost just one of their 10 league games, taking 23 points from a possible 30.
Adebayor, left in the cold by previous manager Andre Villas-Boas, has flourished under Sherwood.
He opened the scoring here with his seventh league goal in 11 games, tucking in after Krul failed to adequately deal with Bentaleb's 19th-minute cross.
The Dutch keeper was punished again after the break, when his parry from Adebayor's low drive fell to Paulinho, who slotted in.
Newcastle tested Lloris only once in the first half, Cisse's header forcing him into action, but the Frenchman was tested more after the break, denying Cisse again, Debuchy and Gouffran. One slip, and the Magpies would have been back in the game.
Instead, Tottenham doubled their margin of victory with two late goals.
Adebayor's second came from a volley into the ground that bounced over the desperate reach of Krul, before Chadli scored his first league goal for the club with a marvellous strike from the edge of the area.
Check out the photos from Wednesday's Premier League action on BBC Sport's Facebook page.
Newcastle manager Alan Pardew:
"I was more upset about the performance. That wasn't an honest display from us. I mentioned a few things in the dressing room that I hope hits home - I won't mention them to the media.
"Tottenham dominated proceedings from the start to the finish. They won with a bit to spare - that shouldn't happen at St James' Park regardless of who I have and don't have available. We lacked confidence.
"We need a break in front of goal. Their keeper made two or three outstanding saves. The overall performance is a concern, it's not the result or the fact we haven't scored."
Spurs boss Tim Sherwood:
"I'm a perfectionist. There was a spell at start of the second half when Hugo [Lloris] had to pull off some saves.
"The boys looked sharp from the start. We've got to keep on the tail of Liverpool. They are relentless. I hope they keep on checking over their shoulders and see Spurs are still there."
Line-ups
Newcastle
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Krul
- 26Debuchy
- 3SantonSubstituted forDummettat 45'minutes
- 7Sissoko
- 6Williamson
- 27Taylor
- 11Gouffran
- 8Anita
- 9Cissé
- 18de JongSubstituted forBen Arfaat 63'minutes
- 28AmeobiSubstituted forMarveauxat 71'minutes
Substitutes
- 10Ben Arfa
- 13Yanga-Mbiwa
- 15Gosling
- 21Elliot
- 22Marveaux
- 23Ameobi
- 36Dummett
Tottenham
Formation 4-3-3
- 25Lloris
- 2Walker
- 16Naughton
- 15Capoue
- 4Kaboul
- 5Vertonghen
- 42Bentaleb
- 8Paulinho
- 10AdebayorSubstituted forSoldadoat 84'minutes
- 19DembéléSubstituted forTownsendat 64'minutes
- 7LennonSubstituted forChadliat 75'minutes
Substitutes
- 9Soldado
- 17Townsend
- 20Dawson
- 21Chadli
- 23Eriksen
- 24Friedel
- 37Kane
- Referee:
- Neil Swarbrick
- Attendance:
- 48,264
Match Stats
Home TeamNewcastleAway TeamTottenham
- Possession
- Home49%
- Away51%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away15
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away8
- Corners
- Home8
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home6
- Away11
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Newcastle United 0, Tottenham Hotspur 4.
Post update
Foul by Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur).
Post update
Paul Dummett (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Corner, Tottenham Hotspur. Conceded by Paul Dummett.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Andros Townsend (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Nacer Chadli.
Goal!
Goal! Newcastle United 0, Tottenham Hotspur 4. Nacer Chadli (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from outside the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Nabil Bentaleb.
Post update
Attempt saved. Andros Townsend (Tottenham Hotspur) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Nabil Bentaleb.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Sylvain Marveaux (Newcastle United) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Moussa Sissoko.
Post update
Foul by Paulinho (Tottenham Hotspur).
Post update
Mathieu Debuchy (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Nabil Bentaleb (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Moussa Sissoko (Newcastle United).
Substitution
Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Roberto Soldado replaces Emmanuel Adebayor.
Goal!
Goal! Newcastle United 0, Tottenham Hotspur 3. Emmanuel Adebayor (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the top left corner.
Post update
Attempt saved. Andros Townsend (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Paulinho.
Post update
Attempt missed. Nabil Bentaleb (Tottenham Hotspur) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Etienne Capoue.
Post update
Offside, Newcastle United. Mathieu Debuchy tries a through ball, but Moussa Sissoko is caught offside.
Post update
Attempt saved. Papiss Demba Cissé (Newcastle United) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Mathieu Debuchy with a through ball.
Post update
Corner, Newcastle United. Conceded by Younes Kaboul.
