Jacob Ramsey's first goal for Newcastle United was decisive as they claimed a much-needed 2-1 away win over Tottenham Hotspur.
As well as easing the pressure on head coach Eddie Howe after three straight Premier League defeats, the result increases the scrutiny facing Spurs boss Thomas Frank, who is still yet to oversee a domestic victory in 2026.
Newcastle dominated the first half and went into the break a goal to the good, with Malick Thiaw prodding home after Joe Willock had an effort disallowed for offside.
After the interval, Spurs got level through Archie Gray in the 64th minute, only for Ramsey to sweep a first-time finish beyond Guglielmo Vicario just four minutes later.
The win lifts Newcastle into the top half and within three points of Liverpool in sixth, while Spurs drop one place to 16th, with Leeds United overtaking them.
How the match unfolded
Starting without a recognised striker, there was a fluid look to Newcastle's attacking play early on, with Willock's drive just fading away from the far post.
Spurs received a major reprieve in the 44th minute, when Willock curled into the bottom-right corner only to be ruled offside following a VAR review.
But Newcastle would not be denied in the fifth minute of first-half stoppage time, as Thiaw reacted quickest after seeing his initial header parried by Vicario.
Spurs improved at the start of the second half, with Mathys Tel wasting a glorious chance before Pape Matar Sarr knocked Xavi Simons' corner down for Gray to equalise.
But parity did not last long, with Anthony Gordon's driving run into the penalty area teeing up a clever left-footed finish from Ramsey.
Newcastle dropped deep after re-establishing their lead, but Spurs' clearest chance to salvage a point saw Micky van de Ven blaze over three minutes into stoppage time.
Spurs' slide continues
Spurs' woes were deepened by Saturday's 2-0 defeat to Man United, which left them six points above the relegation zone and without captain Cristian Romero for four games, following his second red card of the campaign.
With the sodden weather at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium accurately reflecting the mood around Frank's team, the last thing the home fans wanted to see here was a passive start.
But that is exactly what they got, with Frank's decision to drop Joao Palhinha to the bench backfiring as Newcastle outmatched the hosts physically in the first half.
Spurs were opened up all too easily for Willock's disallowed strike and were on their heels collectively for Thiaw's goal.
After surviving a couple of goalmouth scrambles, Spurs finally started to carve out chances, and when Gray made it 1-1, the momentum seemed to have turned in their favour.
However, rather than step on the gas, Spurs went back into their shell, with Conor Gallagher and Gray both guilty of backing off Gordon in the build-up to Ramsey's winner.
While Howe passionately punched the air in front of Newcastle's travelling fans at the full-time whistle, Frank was subjected to another round of jeers. Things do not get any easier for the Dane, either, with a north London derby against Arsenal next up on 22 February.
Howe rewarded for bold attacking selection
Following Saturday's damaging 3-2 defeat at home to Brentford, Howe admitted he had not met expectations in his fourth full season in charge of Newcastle, while reiterating his belief that he could reverse their fortunes.
And his decision to forgo starting a recognised centre-forward for this game, benching big-money signings Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa, in favour of Gordon, proved inspired.
Gordon's willingness to drop deep, coupled with Willock's supporting runs and Anthony Elanga's ability to stretch the play, allowed Newcastle to establish early control over proceedings.
They thought they had a deserved lead when Willock raced on to Ramsey's pass to finish into the far corner, but after he was ruled offside by the finest of margins, Thiaw showed the predatory instincts of a striker when Vicario failed to push his header away from trouble.
Newcastle reacted quickly to another setback in the second half, having been punished for some weak set-piece defending by Gray. Gordon's positioning again caused Spurs problems, and he drove into the area before nudging the ball into the path of Ramsey, who did the rest.
Newcastle's recent history of dropping points from winning positions must have been on their minds as they nervously defended their 2-1 advantage, but the three points should be a major boost to their confidence ahead of Saturday's FA Cup fourth-round tie at Aston Villa.
Club reports
Spurs report | Newcastle report
What the managers said
Thomas Frank: "I think that the players gave everything out there. Newcastle were better than us in the first half but we came back in the second half and equalised. After that, there was a missed pass and then they go the other way, we defend bad and went down 2-1. We didn't have enough to come back into the game.
"It's fair to say we're a little bit hit by injuries. It's not a full team in confidence and flow and everything. Newcastle is a more well built squad over the last years. We had an opportunity to get something out of the game but we didn't take it."
Eddie Howe: "It was a good performance from us tonight. It was a really strange game. Tottenham score against the run of play but credit to the lads because we responded well.
"We've played really well today, we had a number of shots and chances. We dominated the first half. The lads kept going and had to do it the hard way. That's credit to the mentality and feeling in the group."
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Key facts
Spurs are winless in eight Premier League games (D4 L4), their longest run since going nine without victory from May to October 2008 under Juande Ramos.
In his 357th Premier League game, Newcastle’s Howe earned his 136th win (D80 L141), moving level with Roy Hodgson; the only English managers with more wins in the competition’s history are Harry Redknapp (236) and Sam Allardyce (178).
Tottenham Hotspur have scored 13 goals from corners in the Premier League this season (only Arsenal have more, with 14) – their joint-most in a single campaign in the competition (also 13 in 2022/23).
No defender has scored more Premier League goals this season than Newcastle's Thiaw (four, level with Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven).