Rudderless Spurs in danger of being cut adrift from Premier League's elite

In less than a month, Tottenham Hotspur have fired two coaches, seen their director of football resign and potentially kissed goodbye to any hope of a Champions League qualifying spot after a 6-1 demolition by Newcastle United in the Premier League.

Such has been their capitulation that manager Antonio Conte's parting words in a furious rant about a selfish squad lacking "the fire in your eyes to win" still ring true as Spurs fell to a humiliating drubbing at St James' Park on Sunday.

Eddie Howe's Newcastle consolidated their top-four spot with the victory as they rose to third and may have simultaneously taking Spurs' place among England's elite as the London side stare at the prospect of not playing in Europe next season.

That Tottenham are still in fifth place owes much to them having played more games than Liverpool and Brighton & Hove Albion, who are both breathing down their neck with those matches in hand and a far healthier goal difference.

Cristian Stellini's sacking was inevitable as the Italian, who had never managed a top flight team, looked out of his depth despite impressive results while playing with Conte's system when his compatriot was recovering from gallbladder surgery.

But the minute he switched tactics and Spurs deployed a back four for the first time this season, Newcastle carved them open and were 5-0 up inside 21 minutes, a shot in the arm for their own European ambitions after a 20-year absence.

That capitulation was enough to drive a host of travelling Spurs fans to the exits at St James' Park, while their team's disconsolate players looked for solutions on the pitch but could find no one to give them a lift as the home side ran riot.

"Sunday's performance against Newcastle was wholly unacceptable.