Newcastle United produced their biggest result of an already impressive season with a deserved 2-1 victory at Tottenham Hotspur to move into the Premier League's top four.
Newcastle United's Callum Wilson Photo: MI NEWS
First-half goals by Callum Wilson and Miguel Almiron -- both aided by mistakes from Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris -- put Newcastle in control after Tottenham had started brightly.
Wilson chipped the opener into an unguarded net after 31 minutes and Almiron scored from a tight angle in the 40th.
Harry Kane's 10th league goal of the season early in the second half suggested third-placed Tottenham could mount a charge but they huffed and puffed without much quality as Newcastle held firm to claim the three points.
Newcastle's fans celebrated noisily as Eddie Howe's side, who have lost only once in their opening 12 matches, moved into the Champions League places with 21 points.
Tottenham's best start to a top-flight season since the 1963-64 campaign has now had a harsh reality check with back-to-back defeats. They stay third with 23 points from 12 games.
"It was a big win. We were determined to come here and be positive. Great display from us. We deserved the win," Howe, who took over a year ago from Steve Bruce in the wake of a Saudi Arabia-backed takeover, told Sky Sports.
"It's a very tight division. We're enjoying the moment but we won't get ahead of ourselves."
After criticism for their negative performance in the 2-0 loss at Manchester United on Wednesday, Tottenham began brightly against a buoyant Newcastle.
No one more so than Son Heung-min who had two shots in the opening three minutes, the first saved by Nick Pope and the second a right-foot curler that brushed the roof of the net.
Son then tried to be over-delicate with a finish after being played through by Kane, allowing Kieran Trippier to clear the ball off the line, while Pope also saved well from Kane.
Tottenham's Eric Dier created jitters in the home side when he almost scored a comical own goal as his over-cooked back pass wrong-footed Lloris and went just wide.
Newcastle took the game by the scruff of the net with two goals in 10 minutes.
Lloris was favourite to deal with a long ball when he came out of his goal but failed to clear it and collided with Wilson, who then calmly chipped the ball into an unguarded net with Lloris and his team mates furious.
While Wilson did appear to use his arm to knock Lloris down, a VAR check found nothing wrong.
Nine minutes later World Cup-winning keeper Lloris put Ryan Sessegnon under pressure with a casual pass and after the left back was muscled off the ball Almiron advanced and slotted Newcastle's second and his sixth of the season.
Tottenham left the field to boos at halftime and an electrical storm and a torrential downpour dampened home spirits even more -- although some joyous Newcastle fans stripped to the waist and danced in the rain.
Antonio Conte's side needed a quick response and Kane obliged in the 54th minute, grappling with Trippier to get on the end of a cross and score with a stooping header -- the goal allowed after a lengthy VAR check for a possible offside.
Kane became the fourth player to score 10 plus goals in nine consecutive Premier League seasons, after Sergio Aguero, Wayne Rooney and Frank Lampard.
But Tottenham, missing the guile of the still injured forward Dejan Kulusevski, struggled to open up Newcastle's disciplined defence after that and could have few complaints.
DE BRUYNE BACK AMONG THE GOALS BUT GUARDIOLA WANTS MORE
Elsewhere, Kevin De Bruyne eased Manchester City's nerves during their hard-fought 3-1 win over Brighton & Hove Albion by grabbing the all-important third goal, scoring for the first time since Aug. 13.
With Erling Haaland scoring most of City's goals this season, De Bruyne has had to make do with assists instead, setting up 11 goals in all competitions.
Pep Guardiola was in no mood to praise his captain, however, and criticised his form this season, even though he described his goal as a "masterclass".
"He's not playing at his top level, not yet. His form could be better. He made a fantastic goal but he's not playing at his best. He knows that, I don't have to tell him," he said.
VILLA PERK UP AFTER GERRARD'S DEPARTURE
Aston Villa wasted no time turning around their fortunes following the departure of manager Steven Gerrard in midweek, sprinting out to a 3-0 lead over Brentford and adding a fourth goal in the second half in a display that delighted their fans.
Those fans had voiced their displeasure at Gerrard late in his reign but there was nothing but smiles and joy as they quickly dismantled Brentford, playing with a freedom and verve that was sorely lacking under Gerrard.
Villa doubled their tally of goals scored at home for the season, and if they can maintain this kind of form then the threat of relegation will have receded by Christmas.
ARSENAL RUN OUT OF PUFF AGAINST SAINTS
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will be concerned by the way his side fell off the pace in the second half of their 1-1 draw at Southampton on Sunday.
The Gunners were at their sizzling best in the opening stages and deservedly led but as the game wore on they visibly wilted, no doubt feeling the effects of Thursday's Europa League win over PSV Eindhoven.
That allowed Southampton back into the match and it is something Arteta is going to have to manage through the campaign if they are to stay ahead of Manchester City at the top of the table.
Whether he can rotate his players in the second half of the season and keep them fresh for the Premier League could be key to their title challenge.
WOLVES ARE PRIME CANDIDATES FOR THE DROP
Wolverhampton Wanderers' decision to hand interim manager Steve Davis the reins until the new year may have drastic consequences as the team seem unable to get out of a run of poor form and sit 19th in the standings after five losses in six games.
A win over fellow relegation contenders Nottingham Forest earned them a brief respite but Sunday's 4-0 mauling at the hands of bottom side Leicester City, who moved out of the relegation zone, has cast a pall of gloom over Molineux Stadium.
They had 21 shots against Leicester but could not find a way through. Add the signing of an unfit striker in Diego Costa -- who has yet to score in five games -- and Wolves' lack of bite in front of goal has cost them dearly.
They have scored the fewest goals in the league (five) and it is no surprise that they find themselves falling behind in the relegation dog fight.
- Reuters
