Final Score: Tottenham 2 Newcastle United 1

A DOUBLE from Gareth Bale proved the difference as Newcastle United's recent revival came to an end at White Hart Lane.

The Magpies – who had to send goalscorer Yoan Gouffran for an x-ray after he was caught by a second half challenge on his leg - looked nicely placed after making a solid recovery from Bale's fifth minute free-kick which took a bounce before darting inside Tim Krul's left post from 22 yards.

At that stage Tottenham – and Bale - looked in the sort of mood that would worry the top teams in Europe.

But Newcastle regrouped and responded well. They had started to enjoy greater fortune in the final third when Gouffran hit his first goal for the club.

After Moussa Sissoko's burst down the line, he rolled in to the path of Gouffran. The forward took a touch before watching his shiot deflect of Michael Dawson and flying in to the net.

That arrived in the 24th minute and after that Newcastle coped well with Tottenham's advances and occasionally threatened at the opposite end.

But after Gouffran's forced withdrawal and Emmanuel Adebayor's introduction for the hone team, Spurs went on to grab a winner seven minutes from time.

A long ball forward was missed by Adebayor on half way. Bale nipped in to knock the ball in to space ahead of Fabricio Coloccini and was then clear on the Newcastle goal.

With just Krul to beat, the Welsh wonder slotted a cool finish beneath the Dutch goalkeeper to seal the points for Tottenham, who climbed to third for a few hours at least.

Newcastle, who had gone in to the game with back-to-back wins, could have lost by more had Bale not wasted a great chance for his hat-trick in the dying seconds.

A defeat was still the outcome and they now have to focus on the Europa League before the next Premier League game with Southampton in a fortnight's time.

TOTTENHAM (4-2-3-1): Lloris; Walker, Dawson, Caulker, Naughton (Assou-Ekotto 74); Parker, Dembele (Livermore 90); Bale, Holtby (Adebayor 69), Lennon; Dempsey. Subs (not used): Friedel (gk), Vertonghen, Gallas, Sigurdsson.

NEWCASTLE UNITED (4-4-1-1): Krul; Debuchy, Taylor, Coloccini, Santon; Gutierrez (Ameobi 86), Cabaye, Perch (Tiote 82), Gouffran (Marveaux 59); Sissoko; Cisse (not used). Subs: Harper (gk), Anita, Yanga-Mbiwa, Obertan.