Newcastle United have moved up to fourth place in the Premier League following a superb 2-1 win against Spurs at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Callum Wilson opened the scoring in the 32nd minute after chipping the ball into an empty net from distance and Miguel Almiron doubled his side's advantage just a few minutes later with a calm finish following a fine individual run. Harry Kane did pull one back for Spurs in the 54th minute with a diving header, but Newcastle saw it out and claimed a deserved three points.
Here are five things we learned from the game.
READ MORE: Tottenham vs Newcastle United highlights
Newcastle make big statement to rest of Premier League
Ahead of this game, Antonio Conte went as far as to say that he saw Newcastle 'in the future becoming really dangerous for a place in the Champions League'. You suspect Conte was referring to the coming years rather than the end of this season, but the Spurs boss' comment was rather prescient after Newcastle beat the hosts in their own back yard to move into the top four.
This was a statement win. Third-placed Spurs, after all, had won all of their previous home games in the Premier League this season by an aggregate score of 15-4. However, Newcastle did not travel with fear. Howe's side genuinely believe they can go to any ground in the country and get a result and that is exactly what they did on Sunday.
The visitors opened the scoring in the 32nd minute after Fabian Schar launched the ball forward and Hugo Lloris bumped into Callum Wilson as the Spurs goalkeeper attempted to deal with it. Wilson, unlike Lloris, stayed on his feet and chipped the ball into the back of the net from 25 yards. Spurs were absolutely furious, as the hosts surrounded referee Jarred Gillett, but the goal rightly stood.
Miguel Almiron made it 2-0 right before half-time after pouncing on the nervy Emerson Royal deep in Spurs' half before drifting past Clement Lenglet and finishing expertly from a narrow angle. You can't say Newcastle did not deserve it.
Even when the game got a little tense, after Kane pulled one back, Newcastle held their nerve to send a huge statement to the rest of the Premier League.
Spurs fans give Newcastle ultimate compliment
There were still five minutes of stoppage time to play when a number of Spurs fans decided to try and beat the traffic and make an early exit. It was the ultimate compliment for Newcastle, who never looked in danger of conceding a late equaliser. It said it all that only Newcastle supporters could be heard in the final minutes as the away end sang: 'We are the Geordies!'
Smart Newcastle show how far they have come
There were only four survivors in the starting line-up from the corresponding fixture 203 days previously and much has changed at Newcastle since that 5-1 defeat. Although Newcastle also took the lead that day at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the Magpies went on to concede five goals in the space of just 40 minutes as Spurs ran riot.
In an effort to get back into the game, Newcastle chased the game too early as Howe's side took risks and became too open despite so much time being left. The visitors were duly cut apart by Spurs on the counter.
Howe certainly did not like what he saw in that second half and the Newcastle boss changed the way he dealt with the players in the days afterwards. Howe hoped that day would prove a turning point of sorts and there can be no doubt this side is smarter and more streetwise seven months on.
Indeed, after Wilson fired Newcastle ahead, the striker pointed to his temples, urging the Magpies to stay calm, and the visitors did not get carried away. Newcastle, instead, picked their moment and Almiron doubled the visitors' advantage at a crucial moment right before half-time.
Nick Pope proves his value once again
Harry Kane may have pulled a goal back for Spurs, but there was certainly no danger of the hosts putting five goals past this Newcastle goalkeeper, who has proved a bargain at just £10m. Although Nick Pope has had even busier afternoons, the Newcastle number one made crucial saves to keep out Son Heung-min and Harry Kane in the opening half-hour, which gave the visitors the platform to go and attack the game. These were far from routine stops; Pope got a smart hand to Son's attempted lob in the 11th minute and then kept Kane out with his feet in the 29th minute.
It could have been a very different story if either of those goals had gone in, and Spurs took the lead, but this is a very different Newcastle side. On the road last season, Newcastle suffered a number of heavy defeats, including a 5-0 loss at Man City; a 4-1 defeat at Manchester United; a 4-0 thumping at Leicester City; and, of course, a 5-1 hammering at Spurs. However, 12 games into the season, there has not been a comparable blemish and it is hard to envisage this backline having such an off-day anytime soon.
Howe will have felt his side should have dealt with the build-up to Kane's goal better, given how strong Newcastle are defending set-pieces, but there is a reason why the Magpies have the meanest defence in the Premier League. Newcastle are now as effective out of possession as they are on the ball and Howe's side have frustrated opposition supporters at Anfield. Old Trafford and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this season - even if the former ultimately ended in a 2-1 defeat.. As obvious as it sounds, being difficult to beat meant Newcastle always had a chance in this game - no matter how good Spurs are at home.
Joelinton embodies Newcastle spirit
Eddie Howe has always been reluctant to pigeonhole Joelinton as a central midfielder - even though the Brazilian has played the bulk of his football in the middle of the park under the Newcastle head coach. Sunday was a timely reminder why as the £40m man put in a tireless shift on the left wing.
Howe, perhaps surprisingly, only made a single change from the side that had not only got a point at Manchester United but, also, beat Everton a few days previously. As much as that highlighted a lack of viable alternatives in certain positions, it showed how much trust Howe had in players like Joelinton even when they were not 100% after a punishing week of games.
You would not have known that Joelinton went off in the previous game with a knee injury. The Brazilian caused Spurs problems going forward, evening having two big penalty shouts waved away, and also made some important intervention defensively. Even as the minutes ticked by, there was Joelinton to cut out Rodrigo Bentancur with an important interception when Newcastle were stretched.
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