Tottenham arrested their woeful Premiership form over Christmas with an action-packed victory over Newcastle that had virtually everything.

Six goals, three penalties and three sendings-off were witnessed at White Hart Lane as Spurs maintained their unbeaten home record in bizarre circumstances.

George Graham's side even fell behind to Nolberto Solano goal before the late Christmas pantomime unfolded in earnest.

Solano was dismissed before the break for handling on the goal-line as Spurs went in 3-1 ahead through Gary Doherty, a Darren Anderton penalty - he later missed a second - and a wondrous third from Sergei Rebrov on his recall.

Kieron Dyer pulled one back from the spot, as Neil Sullivan was dismissed for allegedly tripping him in the area and the Newcastle midfielder was then ejected by referee Steve Bennett for expressing his opinions about a challenge rather too vehemently with a linesman.

Les Ferdinand wrapped up a long-awaited three points 13 minutes from the end with a free header past Steve Harper.

After a quiet opening, the visitors thought they had won a penalty when Christian Bassedas was felled under the challenge of Ledley King but referee Steve Bennett turned down their appeals.

But Newcastle's early supremacy was rewarded with a 23rd-minute opener, created by youngster Shola Ameobi, filling in for long-term injury victim Alan Shearer, and clinically finished by Solano.

The youngster stole the ball off Sol Campbell's toe and barged his way past Tim Sherwood to tee up the overlapping Peruvian, who stole down the left and calmly slotted the ball past a helpless Sullivan.

The lead was shortlived, however, as Tottenham turned the match on its head in sensational style with an eight-minute treble.

Harper was forced to turn aside a Doherty header and a deflected Rebrov shot in quick succession before the Irish youngster provided an equaliser within four minutes of going behind.

Stephen Clemence found Doherty's head from a right-wing corner and Harper was given no chance with a thunderous effort from 12 yards.

The leveller was only for starters though, as Spurs added two more as Newcastle were reduced to 10 men.

First, Gary Speed was adjudged to have pushed over Anderton in the area and the latter got up to slam the penalty home.

And the hosts were handed another spot-kick in the 32nd minute as Solano kept out a Doherty header on the line with his hand, to receive his marching orders.

This time Harper read Anderton's blast from 12 yards and blocked the penalty with his flailing legs.

But the White Hart Lane faithful need not have fretted as a sublime goal from Rebrov made it 3-1.

Doherty burst forward and slipped the striker into space in the box, the recalled hitman looked up and clipped a delicious chip with the outside of his right foot across Harper from 12 yards and in off the far post.

The former Dynamo Kiev poacher's seventh of the season was so nearly followed by another on the stroke of half-time but the visiting keeper tipped over a 25-yard piledriver on the run.

If the game was bubbling at the close of the first period, it reached boiling point on the resumption as Newcastle clawed a goal back and two more players were dismissed.

Dyer - who had clipped the sidenetting with a free-kick in the middle of the home side's goal blitz - was the major protagonist, creating an opening, pulling a goal back and receiving his marching orders within eight second-half minutes.

The England midfielder charged more than half the length of the field following a 46th-minute corner for the home side, outpaced Oyvind Leonhardsen into the area and fell under the challenge of Sullivan.

The Scotland international protested his innocence to no avail, received the red card from Bennett and Dyer sent substitute keeper Ian Walker the wrong way from the spot.

But it was soon 10 against nine as Dyer's heated opinions, expressed to a linesman after being felled in the box, resulted in his exit.

Newcastle boss Bobby Robson had already remonstrated with fourth official Andy d'Urso in the first half after Tottenham's second penalty, gesturing that King's clumsy handling of Bassedas merited the same.

Bassedas then received a yellow card for diving in the 56th minute as Bennett turned card crazy - the only surprise in an incident-packed night was its colour.

A miserable Christmas had left Tottenham nervously peaking over their shoulders at the relegation scrap developing below them. But a night of new year madness ended their shocking run of six games without a win.

With just a single point and no goals from their three festive games George Graham found greater penetration with the return of joint-leading scorers Sergei Rebrov and Les Ferdinand, the former had been omitted in the 3-0 reverse at Ipswich and the England striker shaking off the effects of a neck injury.

And how the pairing worked. Record £11million signing Rebrov has found adjusting to the pace of the English game a struggle but the Ukrainian was irresistible alongside the veteran targetman and the duo remain at the summit of Spurs' scoring charts with seven apiece.

Doherty, who had deputised for the Londoners' record purchase up front at Portman Road, slotted into a back three alongside captain Campbell and Chris Perry and added to the goal threat from dead ball situations.

Teams

Tottenham: Sullivan, Campbell, Perry, Anderton (Young 82), Sherwood, Leonhardsen (Walker 48), Clemence, King, Ferdinand, Rebrov, Doherty.

Subs Not Used: Korsten, Davies, Thelwell.

Sent Off: Sullivan (48).

Goals: Doherty 27, Anderton 30 pen, Rebrov 35, Ferdinand 77.

Newcastle: Harper, Barton, Goma, Griffin (Glass 69), Hughes, Bassedas, Speed, Acuna, Solano, Dyer, Ameobi (Lua-Lua 69).

Subs Not Used: Given, Stephen Caldwell, Cordone.

Sent Off: Solano (32), Dyer (53).

Booked: Bassedas, Goma.

Goals: Solano 23, Dyer 49 pen.

Att: 34,324

Ref: S Bennett (Orpington).