Full-time: Newcastle United 1 Tottenham 3

ON a Sunday afternoon when it could easily have been more about the fans protesting outside St James’ Park than the events inside it, Newcastle United’s players and supporters combined to secure an unsatisfactory double.

Now after the Magpies’ lowest Premier League crowd of the season witnessed a sixth straight defeat which equals the worst run of that era, Tyneside is well aware that things could deteriorate further still in the next few weeks.

An attendance officially given as 47,427 – which did not fall short of the club’s worst in the Premier League – witnessed a Newcastle performance demonstrating the sort of unity the fans boycotting the game would have been proud of.

But in the end, illustrating why those same supporters holding up some of the 20,000 printed Ashley Out leaflets outside the Gallowgate are so frustrated, Newcastle came up short against Tottenham, like they have so often this season.

There were times when Newcastle threatened to avoid yet another reversal; like when Jack Colback pounced on a loose ball 20 seconds after half-time to cancel out Nacer Chadli’s opener after half an hour.

But then Christian Eriksen’s free-kick – which evaded everyone in the area and bounced straight in despite more than a hint of offside – seven minutes later was followed by a clinical stoppage-time goal from Harry Kane to make sure of the points for Tottenham.

And while Spurs can look to the remaining games with thought of finishing in a European spot, Newcastle could yet be playing in the Championship next season after failing to improve on a 2015 record which is the second worst in the division.

Newcastle have five matches left to preserve top-flight status and, worryingly, three of the sides below them all have a game in hand, including Sunderland. Whether or not the events here will see numbers reduce further for Saturday’s visit of Swansea remains to be seen.

There were pockets of empty seats spread all-around the stadium when all Carver wanted to do was ensure his side avoided yet another defeat.

After five straight reversals he must have been relieved to have the option of reinstalling his captain Fabricio Coloccini back at the heart of the defence after suspension; allowing Daryl Janmaat to switch back to his preferred right-back role.

And defensively Newcastle coped with the strong running of the yellow shirts up until Chadli’s opener. By that time Tottenham could actually have been behind, given how the home side had created the best two chances.

But Newcastle, who caused enough problems despite the strange build up the game because of the boycott talk, were unable to take advantage of those earlier opportunities.

The best was inside quarter of an hour when Yoan Gouffran, before he was guilty of Spurs the opener, worked his way down the line to whip in a teasing centre for Ayoze Perez. The Spanish striker met the delivery with a first time shot but Tottenham goalkeeper Michel Vorm was alert to deny him at his near post.

And then, just as a low-flying small plane flew over St James’ for the fifth time carrying a banner reminding Newcastle fans of a fifth derby defeat in a row, Mike Williamson headed a Ryan Taylor free-kick over the bar from six yards.

Moments later Tottenham showed their opponents how to capitalise on a chance when it falls your way. Gouffran was dispossessed in his own half when he should have played a simple pass and Chadli took command.

The Belgium international still had plenty to do but he was allowed the space to run and roll possession on to his left foot, where he perfectly drilled his low drive from 25 yards inside Krul’s bottom right corner.

 There were a few boos and jeers from the home fans inside the ground after the half-time whistle but Newcastle came out for the second half full of intent and were rewarded within 20 seconds of the restart with the equaliser.

Sammy Ameobi and Gabriel Obertan were brought on for Gouffran and Mehdi Abeid and that led to the leveller. Perez's charge in to the penalty area from the right caused problems and he squared across the box.

Perez and Janmaat were involved in trying their luck first, but the loose ball did eventually drop to Colback who side-footed a powerful low finish inside the same corner which Chadli had found in the first half.

But any fresh hope Newcastle had of a surprise result soon disappeared when Tottenham reclaimed the lead less than seven minutes later and it was Colback who conceded the free-kick which led to it when he brought down Eriksen near the touchline.

Eriksen curled in a beautiful inswinging delivery and when it appeared to narrowly miss Nabil Bentaleb’s head, Krul saw it too late to be able to prevent from bouncing in to his top left corner.

Even replays made it difficult to determine for certain whether or not the ball had shaved Bentaleb’s head en route and had it done so then there could have been strong claims for offside. As it was, though, there were no complaints and Newcastle were behind again.

From that point on Tottenham looked far more dangerous. Vorm hardly had a save to make before the final whistle, while Krul was far busier and had it not been for him the Newcastle could have been embarrassed.

His best stop arrived when he somehow prevented a close-range Kane volley from crossing his line just moments after he had also raced out to deny Erik Lamela as he charged down on goal.

But the Dutchman could do nothing to stop Kane from hitting his 30th goal of the season – 20th in the Premier League – when Tottenham made the most of Newcastle’s late pressure on the visitors’ box coming to nothing.

Spurs broke at speed and with only one black and white shirt patrolling the half way line, Kane was eventually handed possession just inside the Newcastle half. The young striker raced clear and side-footed in the third with the sort of confidence keepers have feared this season.

That wrapped things up and Newcastle have five more games to save a season which could still get a lot worse.