Pitch bust-up the spur as Butt bags precious points for Magpies

NEWCASTLE boss Glenn Roeder admitted his side were motivated to beat Tottenham yesterday by a half-time bust-up between Pascal Chimbonda and matchwinner Nicky Butt.

The Newcastle midfielder appeared to be slapped in the face by the Spurs full-back, and the former England midfielder responded with a push in the chest as the row continued in the tunnel at White Hart Lane.

The Magpies had been angered after Dimitar Berbatov had tried to block the kicks of goalkeeper Shay Given, who produced a host of stunning saves. The visitors were fired up after the confrontation, meaning Roeder was barely required to give an interval team-talk.