Ten-man Tottenham hit top four

YOU know that saying about 10 men being harder to beat than 11?

It looks like Harry Redknapp is using that old cliché as a special tactic after his side overcame the loss of one of their number to win for the second time in three days, and displace Chelsea in the top four of the Premier League.

This hard-fought win over a snarling Newcastle side, bristling with aggression, came at a price as Younes Kaboul was sent off in the 65th minute, meaning he will miss three games, a fate that befell Jermain Defoe in Tottenham’s 2-1 win at Aston Villa on St Stephen’s Day.

On that occasion, Spurs had to play the best part of an hour with 10 men, but against Newcastle, they had to see out a final 25 minutes in reduced circumstances after Kaboul pushed his forehead into the face of Newcastle midfielder Cheikh Tiote.

That Spurs succeeded, again, was a triumph for their teamwork and ability to score goals of breathtaking brilliance on the break.

On Sunday it was Rafael van der Vaart who made the most of Gareth Bale’s lung-busting run from his own half.

Here it was Bale who provided a spectacular finish after the outstanding Luka Modric turned defence into attack, as Spurs clung on to a lead given to them by their other flying winger, Aaron Lennon in the 57th minute.

Although this victory extended Tottenham’s unbeaten run to eight games, and had the bonus of their first clean sheet since the opening day of the season, they were a notch below their best and struggled initially to break down a stubborn Newcastle side who appeared intent on trying to muscle Spurs out of the game.

Andy Carroll and Joey Barton were partners in crime in their forward line and drew jeers from the home supporters with their behaviour and attitude.

Carroll clattered Michael Dawson three times in the opening minutes and showed what he is all about — a muscular physical presence and goal threat, although he hardly tested Heurelho Gomes in the Tottenham goal. Barton, too, was all aggression, getting into battles all over the pitch.

But referee Anthony Taylor, new to the Premier League list, was lenient with some hard-hitting challenges until Kaboul lost patience after Cheikh Tiote tried one foul too many.

The French defender reacted angrily, and was sent off.

“It was stupid of him,” Redknapp admitted.

“It was a lack of discipline, absolute nonsense and he needs to learn.”

But such is the confidence of Redknapp’s men that they kept going and were comfortable winners in the end, with Newcastle restricted to two goal-line clearances in stoppage time but little else of note.

Most of the goalmouth action was at the opposite end, as Tim Krul and his defence kept Spurs at bay for almost an hour. The young Dutch keeper tipped over a curling free-kick from van der Vaart in the 33rd minute before pushing a point-blank header from Roman Pavlyuchenko on to the inside of the post in first-half stoppage time.

But Spurs were not to be denied long, and it was Lennon who opened the scoring. When he received a driven pass from Kaboul, the England winger took one touch before firing a low shot into the far corner, the ball going in off the foot of James Perch.

That set Spurs buzzing, and Pavlyuchenko set up Modric for a low shot that was well saved before the game turned really ugly. Alan Smith was lucky to receive only a booking for a wild lunge on Bale, before Kaboul saw red.

Redknapp reshaped his side, and in the 69th minute Alan Pardew withdrew Tiote, presumably to prevent him getting sent off himself. Within a minute, Bale wrapped up the points with a goal of breathtaking brilliance. Modric won the ball off Carroll on the edge of Tottenham’s penalty area and carried it forward before releasing Bale on the left. The Welsh flier kicked on as only he can, cut inside Steven Taylor and then drilled the ball into the far corner from an acute angle.

It was all over bar the shouting, as Spurs moved into fourth place — for 24 hours at least, while Newcastle dropped to 12th.

Pardew has lost twice since winning his first match in charge, but has been boosted by owner Mike Ashley declaring that Carroll is not for sale. “I’ve spoken to Mike and said he (Carroll) has to stay, so he’s not for sale, which is the biggest and best news we will have in the transfer window.”

TOTTENHAM (4-4-1-1): Gomes 7, Hutton 7, Dawson 7, Kaboul 6, Assou-Ekotto 7, Lennon 7, Palacios 6 (Jenas 46 (7), Modric 9, Bale 8, Van der Vaart 7 (Crouch 72 (6)), Pavlyuchenko 6 (Bassong 66 (6)).

NEWCASTLE (4-4-1-1): Krul 7, Simpson 6, Taylor 6, Coloccini 7, Perch 6, Routledge 5, Smith 5, Tiote 6, (Lovenkrands 79 (5)), Guitierrez 6 (Ranger 69 (5), Barton 6, Carroll 7.

Referee: Anthony Taylor.