Newcastle torn apart at Tottenham (From The Northern Echo)

Newcastle torn apart at Tottenham

7:23pm Saturday 11th February 2012 in Newcastle United Match Reports By Scott Wilson

NEWCASTLE slumped to their heaviest defeat of the season as Tottenham completely out-classed them to secure a 5-0 win at White Hart Lane.

The Magpies' European claims were seriously undermined as a Spurs side that remain contenders for the title outplayed them from first minute to last.

Arsenal's last-minute winner at the Stadium of Light earlier in the afternoon means Alan Pardew's side have slipped to sixth in the table after a chastening night in north London.

Former Newcastle striker Louis Saha grabbed a first-half double, with Benoit Assou-Ekotto, Niko Kranjcar and Emmanuel Adebayor also finding the target.

The game was over inside the opening 35 minutes as a rampant Tottenham established a four-goal lead. Newcastle's previous trip to London had seen them concede five goals in the space of 45 manic minutes at Fulham, and things were every bit as bad as they were completely ripped apart at White Hart Lane.

Adebayor was their tormentor-in-chief, and while the striker did not get on the scoresheet before the break, he had a major hand in all four of his side's goals.

The opener came as early as the fourth minute, with Adebayor supplying a low cross from the right-hand side and an unmarked Assou-Ekotto hammering home at the back post.

A second goal arrived two minutes later as Adebayor broke clear down the right-hand side again. The Manchester City loanee crossed into the middle and Saha, a deadline-day signing from Everton, claimed his first Spurs goal with a crisp half-volley.

Saha did not have to wait to double his personal tally, as Spurs extended their advantage even further in the 20th minute. Luka Modric crossed from the left, Adebayor provided a deft first-time lay off, and Saha drilled another crisp strike past Krul.

Trailing by three goals, Newcastle were all over the place, but worse was to come with 11 minutes of the first half remaining.

A swift Spurs break ended with Saha feeding Adebayor, whose shot was saved by Krul. The loose ball broke towards Kranjcar though, and the Croatian midfielder swept home from 12 yards out.

Newcastle's only first-half chance of note was a Demba Ba free-kick that Brad Friedel palmed around the upright, but the visitors were comprehensively outplayed for almost all of the opening period.

Alan Pardew's response at the interval was to introduce Shane Ferguson for the unimpressive Gabriel Obertan, and Newcastle did at least manage to tighten things up in midfield for the opening 20 minutes of the second half.

They couldn't keep Spurs out for any longer than though, with Adebayor claiming the goal his superb all-round display deserved in the 65th minute.

Assou-Ekotto crossed from the left and, after Saha nodded the ball into his path, Adebayor swivelled and dispatched a crisp volley.

Newcastle finally created a meaningful opportunity of their own with 12 minutes left, but Brad Friedel saved Ba's header from a Danny Guthrie cross. The rebound fell to Dan Gosling, but the substitute blazed over.

TOTTENHAM (4-4-2): Friedel; Walker, Dawson, King (Nelsen 75), Assou-Ekotto; Kranjcar, Parker, Modric, Bale (Lennon 67); Saha (Defoe 67), Adebayor.

Subs (not used): Cudicini (gk), Rose, Livermore, Khumalo.

NEWCASTLE (4-4-2): Krul; Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon; Obertan (Ferguson 46), Perch, Guthrie (Lovenkrands 86), Gutierrez; Cisse (Gosling 68), Ba.

Subs (not used): Elliot (gk), Abeid, Ben Arfa, Shola Ameobi.