Newcastle's hopes of climbing back into fourth place were dented as Andy O'Brien's own goal four minutes from the end gave Tottenham all three points.

After 22 goals in the previous three games at White Hart Lane most people expected another feast, especially with the likes of Robbie Keane, Jermain Defoe, Fredi Kanoute, Alan Shearer and Craig Bellamy on display.

However, apart from a poor miss by Gary Doherty and a goalline clearance by Jonathan Woodgate, neither side looked like scoring until Spurs got that late, lucky break.

Just as the game appeared to be heading for a stalemate, substitute Stephane Dalmat made the difference as he beat Woodgate to the ball on the right flank and whipped in a low cross which O'Brien turned into his own net.

Apart from a good win and their first clean sheet at home since October, the other positive for Spurs was the return from injury of skipper Jamie Redknapp.

He came off the bench for the final 20 minutes for his first appearance since suffering a knee injury in September, in what turned out to be Glenn Hoddle's final game in charge.

The game had a lively start and Christian Ziege's dead-ball expertise was called into action in the second minute after Olivier Bernard fouled Steve Carr on the right edge of the box, but his curling left-foot free kick was well taken just under the crossbar by goalkeeper Shay Given.

Keane was revelling in a roving midfield role and after nine minutes he teed-up Ledley King for a low drive from 25 yards which was narrowly wide of Given's right-hand post.

Newcastle's first real response came after 12 minutes when Michael Brown brought down Bellamy on the left flank, level with the 18-yard box. Laurent Robert drove in a low free kick and Doherty did well to clear inside his own six-yard box. The same defender blocked another stinging shot from the Frenchman five minutes later.

Newcastle stepped up the pressure and went close after 26 minutes. First, Robert's right wing corner was cleared to Jermaine Jenas and his 20-yard shot hit a wall of defenders. The ball came back out to Bernard who fired in a low drive from 30 yards which almost wrong-footed Kasey Keller, but the American goalkeeper managed to stick out a leg and deflect it to safety.

The men in black and white then screamed for a penalty a minute later as Aaron Hughes fell flat on his face inside the right edge of the box.

Doherty, who has signed a new contract, came to the rescue again after 41 minutes with a vital tackle after Keller fumbled and the ball fell at the feet of Shearer.

Keane again raised the tempo down the left flank after 67 minutes, setting up Defoe for a shot which was deflected behind and from the corner Woodgate hooked the ball off the line.

Dalmat replaced Ziege after 80 minutes and was instantly involved, running on to Keane's pass before hitting a disappointing angled drive at Given. Two minutes later he popped up on the opposite flank and fired over the bar.

Then in the 86th minute, just as the game appeared to be heading for a stalemate, Dalmat made the difference as he beat Woodgate to the ball on the right flank and whipped in a low cross which O'Brien turned into his own net.

Teams

Tottenham Keller, Carr, Taricco, Doherty, Gardner, King, Brown, Keane, Ziege (Dalmat 80), Kanoute (Redknapp 70), Defoe.

Subs Not Used: Hirschfeld, Postiga, Kelly.

Goals: O'Brien 86 og.

Newcastle Given, O'Brien, Hughes (Ameobi 89), Woodgate, Bernard, Jenas, Speed, Bowyer (Ambrose 75), Robert, Shearer, Bellamy.

Subs Not Used: Elliott, Harper, Viana.

Att: 36,083

Ref: H Webb (S Yorkshire).