Tottenham turn on the style in five-star win over Newcastle

Tottenham needed to win this game and did so in a manner that suggests the battle for fourth place, or better, is nowhere near cut and dried. They enter the Champions League places, at least until Arsenal visit Crystal Palace on Monday night, and it was no mean feat that they contrived Newcastle’s biggest defeat of the season.

A different outcome had looked likely when Fabian Schär put the visitors, who had looked the more competent for most of the first half, ahead but Ben Davies levelled quickly and Spurs blew Newcastle away after the break. Matt Doherty, Son Heung-min, Emerson Royal and the substitute Steven Bergwijn all scored superbly worked goals and, from appearing stodgy, Antonio Conte’s team offered a reminder that they are an exhilarating proposition when in full flow.

Eddie Howe’s reign has generally been hallmarked by a clarity rarely associated with modern-day Newcastle. The trend continued early on: they were set up neither to defend in depth nor flood forward, but instead picked their moments to probe. They could point to the first sniff of a big chance in the 22nd minute, when Jonjo Shelvey’s optimistic drive ricocheted into the air and was brought down sublimely by Joe Willock, who had just about worked himself a clear shot when Cristian Romero sped in from nowhere.

Spurs had been left lop-sided by an injury to Sergio Reguilón, which meant Doherty was obliged to continue his renaissance out of position on the left. It turned out that there would be no reason whatsoever to rue their wing-back rejig but the opening half-hour had little zip. Opportunities, such as they were, arrived infrequently.

Rodrigo Bentancur’s sixth-minute curler was repelled by the head of Schär while Harry Kane, bringing a bobbling