Alexander Isak snatches Newcastle winner to see off Tottenham

Alexander Isak's first goal of the season handed Newcastle a priceless 2-1 Premier League victory over Tottenham on an eventful afternoon at St James' Park.

The Sweden international struck 13 minutes from time to settle a pulsating encounter which the visitors dominated for long periods but were unable to convert the pressure into goals.

Keeper Nick Pope, who was partially to blame for the Dan Burn own goal which cancelled put Harvey Barnes' opener, atoned which a series of fine saves and was also grateful for the intervention of his crossbar and some less than accurate finishing.

But Eddie Howe's men, watched by chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan among a crowd of 52,211, many of them still questioning a relative lack of summer transfer activity, were once again far from their best despite the return to league football of Italy international Sandro Tonali as a second-half substitute following a 10-month ban.

Spurs found themselves under early pressure when Isak robbed Son Heung-min deep inside enemy territory and chipped an audacious fifth-minute attempt over keeper Guglielmo Vicario which clipped the bar.

FULL MATCH DETAILS

Vicario was sent sprawling across his goal three minutes later after Barnes cut inside from Anthony Gordon's pass and fired just wide, although the visitors started to work their way into the game with Son, Yves Bissouma and James Maddison prominent and had a 12th-minute Cristian Romero header correctly ruled out for offside.

Emil Krafth and Lloyd Kelly went close from corners in quick succession at the other end, but Wilson Odobert replied in kind with a rising strike which Pope was happy to see narrowly miss the target.

Pope had to get down well to beat away a 25th-minute Pape Sarr effort after Son and Dejan