ONE team has not signed a player in the last two transfer windows, one broke its long-standing transfer record last week.

One team beat the Premier League champions last week in front of a full house, one struggled to edge past Watford in front of a home stadium only a third full.

But while things are looking slightly up in the black and white world of Newcastle United, the reality is that there’s still some way to go before Rafa Benitez is convinced enough that he should remain on Tyneside and they are still down among the Premier League also-rans.

Cardiff’s win over Bournemouth means the Magpies are two points off the relegation places. Tottenham Hotspur, on the other hand, moved second in the Premier League table with this victory.

Spurs probably won’t win the league, the Magpies probably won’t get relegated.

Benitez is relatively content with the transfer business finally conduced by the club.

Counterpart Mauricio Pochettino was ‘disappointed’ as Spurs became the first Premier League club to go two consecutive transfer windows without signing anyone. That’s a tag even Mike Ashley, watching from the Wembley seats, can’t live with.

Now, for Benitez, he gets a full week on the training ground, the place where he is at his best and happiest, with two new signings to bed into his ways and means.

Record buy Miguel Almiron wasn’t able to play at Wembley Stadium as the club awaits his work permit after his move from America. Barreca made a late substitute appearance and he is likely to boost the Magpies back line, freeing up Matt Ritchie to be able to play in a more advanced role than the left-back spot in a flat back five he occupied on Saturday.

Benitez is sure the two new recruits will help his side on the front foot.

They didn’t really attack Spurs, the Benitez game plan was more about containment and sneaking something on the break. He’s done it plenty of times before; it worked against Manchester City last week so he was more than entitled to try again.

"I think that in these kind of games you know you have to defend, but also our idea was to go forward when we could if we regained the ball,’’ reflected the Spaniard.

“We did it during the first-half when we had two or three situations that were very close, and especially in the second-half when we started with one or two crosses, one of which we hit the post from. We also had a chance for Ayoze [Perez].

“You have to defend against good teams like Tottenham but, after, you have to think about attacking as well. These players, Barreca and Almiron, both are offensive players, they are fine on the ball, they go forward, they have some pace, and they bring us something that we needed. So hopefully they can help the team in attack."

Despite shelling out over £20m on long-term target Almiron, finally eclipsing the long-standing Michael Owen transfer record of 2005, Benitez wasn’t one to gloat about the outlay, or revel in finally getting the better of Ashley: "I don't talk about the money, but I talk about the characteristics of the players. We were looking for these kind of players and we are happy with that."

Neither too was the forgiving boss ready to point the finger of blame at goalkeeper Martin Dubravka.

He’s saved his side on enough occasions since signing 12 months ago to be in credit for this lapse, although costly errors have crept into his game of late.

Some stout and resolute defending, taking the sting out of a Spurs attack already lacking the class of injured duo Dele Alli and Harry Kane, had the game heading for a 0-0 draw.

Both sides had already gone close, both hitting the frame of the goal, when Son Heung-Min got the ball out of his feet on the edge of the area. With room to shoot, the forward let go and his low dipping shot should have been fairly routine for Dubravka.

But he got his position all wrong and the ball bounced through him. All that effort and hard work counted for nothing.

“I don’t blame anyone for the goal – anyone can make a mistake. It’s a goal that we could have avoided. We now have to look forward,’’ said Benitez, football manager turned politician with his answer.

Had the midweek exertions against City taken it out of his players? Was the goal a result of being mentally and physically exerted against the Pep Guardiola magicians?

Benitez mused: "No, I think it was more the quality of Son as he turned quickly, and then perhaps we can manage a little bit better to stop him shooting, and after maybe it was disappointing the way that we conceded.

“You can improve the way that you can defend if you have fresh legs, and maybe then you can press a little bit better and give them less time on the ball.

“You could see that in the second half we were getting tired and then with Eriksen he can make the difference if you give him time on the ball. We couldn't manage because they have very good players.

“Also, some people talk about their injuries, but they made substitutions and players that came on the pitch are top-class players anyway."

In the first-half the biggest concern for Spurs was the amount of melting ice falling off the Wembley Arch onto the pitch. Right-back Kieren Tripper was startled a couple of times as it caused him more worries than the overly-defensive Ritchie managed.

Newcastle hit the post through Salomon Rondon, the striker smartly ghosting into the area to meet DeAndre Yedlin’s cross after he fed the right-sided defender, while Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris saved comfortably from Perez in the second-half.

Spurs also hit the woodwork, while Fabian Schar cleared a goalbound effort off the line.

“For sure, the target is still survival – get three points in next game and we are closer to staying up,’’ concluded Benitez.