A controversial Anthony Gordon equaliser followed by Alexander Isak's winner saw Newcastle come from a goal down to beat Tottenham 2-1 for a sixth consecutive victory in all competitions.
After Dominic Solanke's fourth-minute opener, Spurs were left fuming with Gordon's sixth-minute leveller after the ball hit Joelinton's hand in the build-up but VAR allowed the goal to stand because "his arm was by his side, in a natural position and the contact was accidental".
Ex-Premier League referee Mike Dean agreed with the decision on Soccer Saturday as Joelinton's alleged handball "did not lead directly to a goal" after the deflection fell to Bruno Guimaraes before Gordon expertly finished past Spurs debutant Brandon Austin.
'Angriest I've been in my career' - Ange fumes over Joelinton handball call
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It meant Eddie Howe's fifth-placed side piled more misery on injury-ravaged Tottenham - who finished the game without a recognised centre-back - to leave Ange Postecoglou's side winless in their last six Premier League home games and in the bottom half of the table in 12th putting them closer to the relegation zone than the top four.
New England head coach Thomas Tuchel, attending his first match as Three Lions boss, would have been delighted to see two English players score the first two goals in north London as Solanke headed Spurs into a fourth-minute lead.
But just 140 seconds later Gordon controversially equalised despite a lengthy VAR check for Joelinton's alleged handball.
A furious Postecoglou then saw his side lose their momentum as Newcastle turned up the pressure which eventually told in the 38th minute as Isak maintained his red-hot form with a scrappy close-range finish to score for a seventh consecutive Premier League game.
Postecoglou's injury issues then worsened as full-back Djed Spence moved to centre-back for the second half after Radu Dragusin was substituted at half-time taking the Spurs absentee list into double figures.
Despite a patched-up defence, Spurs did push for a second-half equaliser as Brennan Johnson hit the post while substitutes James Maddison and Sergio Reguilon both put efforts wide.
But Newcastle held on for a perfect start to 2025 to move a point behind fourth-placed Chelsea and heap more pressure on Postecoglou.
Both sides can now look ahead to their Carabao Cup semi-final first legs, with Newcastle going to Arsenal on Tuesday and Tottenham hosting Liverpool on Wednesday - both live on Sky Sports.
Ange: Angriest I've been in my career
Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou in his post-match press conference on the Joelinton handball decision:
"All I'll say is that on any other day, on a fair and even playing ground, we would have won that game. Simple as that.
"And don't keep asking me about the decision. If you guys have no opinion about it, that's fine. I know what my opinion is.
He added: "Considering everything we had to go through and the situation we're in right now, to put on a performance like that, I take my hat off to the players. I thought they were outstanding.
"I'm just really, really angry, as angry as I've ever been in my career, that they were denied the right rewards for a fantastic performance."
Asked to clarify whether he was angry at the officiating: "I know you just want me to say something, but I'm not going to. I think it's clear. Whether people agree with me or not, you think it wasn't handball or it was accidental or whatever, I'm just not interested in any of that discussion.
"What I'm saying is that on any given day, with a fair and even playing field and logical thought processes, we would have won that game. That's it. You can make what you want of that. I don't know what else to say about it."
Howe: Gordon's goal right to be given
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe in his post-match press conference on the Joelinton handball decision:
"I can't sit here and lie and say I haven't seen it, because I have. It definitely hit Joelinton's arm - I can give you that as well - but I'm not in control of the referee's decision.
"I believe that his arm's down in a natural position. And I think the referee and the VAR have followed the rules and protocols that are in place, so that's why it's given."
Asked on Postecoglou's comments that Spurs deserved to win: "I thought we were dominant in the first half today. I thought it could, and possibly should, have been more in that first-half period.
"Yes, Tottenham played well in the second half and they brought on some quality players and pushed us back at times.
"But we did enough to get over the line."
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