Battling Newcastle scraped into the FA Cup semi-finals with a gritty victory over Tottenham.

Patrick Kluivert's 11th goal of the season after just five minutes claimed the win which booked the Magpies their fourth semi-final in eight years - although it took a breath-taking double save from Shay Given to deny first substitute Robbie Keane and then Jermain Defoe a 68th-minute equaliser as Spurs fought back.

Martin Jol's side will count themselves very unfortunate not to have secured at least a replay after besieging the Newcastle goal.

The hosts were decimated by injury, but Graeme Souness' back four - ably assisted by Given - held firm to earn their trip to Cardiff via a grandstand finish in front of a crowd of 51,307.

It was their seventh successive victory inside 25 days, and the fact that it came courtesy of a never-say-die defensive display which resulted in another clean sheet will have delighted Souness.

Fredi Kanoute, Reto Ziegler and Jermain Defoe were excellent for the visitors. But Given, Kieron Dyer, Aaron Hughes, makeshift left-back Jermaine Jenas and, against his former club, Stephen Carr were equally outstanding in a pulsating encounter which kept alive captain Alan Shearer's dream of lifting a trophy in his final season.

Things have changed so drastically at St James' Park in recent weeks that the news that defender Titus Bramble was struggling with a groin injury before kick-off came as a major blow, and the fact that his name appeared on the team sheet was greeted with some relief.

But Souness' gamble to start with his in-form centre-half backfired five minutes before the break when he limped off - and with no other defender on the bench, England midfielder Jenas was asked to fill in at left-back as Hughes joined Jean-Alain Boumsong in the middle.

By that point, however, the Toon Army had celebrated and panicked in equal measure as a tight contest unfolded in front of them.

Kluivert's fifth-minute strike, his third goal in as many starts, took him to 11 for the season days after Souness had reiterated his belief that his future at St James' Park will depend on how may times he finds the back of the net.

The Dutchman was in the right place at the right time to profit from Shearer's surge past Ledley King and pull-back from the right - the flank which gave his side much joy in the opening 20 minutes or so as Timothee Atouba was dissected by the lively Dyer.

Spurs fought back - and with Michael Brown, Michael Carrick and Ziegler wresting control in the middle of the pitch and Kanoute proving a willing recipient, the home side found themselves having to defend with some determination.

The Frenchman fired a shot on the turn straight at Given on 30 minutes and toe-poked a Defoe cross into the side-netting four minutes later, while the England international tested the Irishman with a dipping 37th-minute effort from distance.

Shearer left the field temporarily to have two staples put in a chin wound. But he was able to return, unlike Bramble, whose absence left the home fans knowing a place in the semi-finals was within their grasp - with a difficult 45 minutes to negotiate first.

Newcastle returned aware they had to impose themselves once again, and Laurent Robert played his part in the opening two minutes of the half - luring first Brown and then Noe Pamarot into unwise challenges which cost both a booking.

Robert threatened again on 49 minutes after accepting Carr's cross-field pass and firing the ball in to the near post, where Kluivert was just muscled off it by Pamarot.

Simon Davies dragged a volley wide from 16 yards on 53 minutes, and then King saw his effort headed away by Amdy Faye as Spurs made their big push.

The home side rallied briefly without ever threatening Paul Robinson - but Jol went for broke with 27 minutes remaining when he took off Atouba and replaced him with striker Keane.

The Irishman might have got his side back into it within five minutes of his arrival, but the brilliance of international team-mate Given denied him.

Kanoute burst into the penalty area from the right and pulled the ball back for Keane in almost an identical position to the one from which Kluivert had scored. But Given pulled off a fine save to claw away his first-time volley and then recover to keep out Defoe's follow-up with an even better stop.

Newcastle hit Tottenham on the break four minutes later when Lee Bowyer played in substitute Shola Ameobi, on for the injured Kluivert, down the right.

He headed straight into the penalty area and saw his low cross deflected just wide of the post as the game entered its tense final stages.

Bowyer appeared to handle in the penalty area in the closing minutes. But the incident took place with the referee's view obscured - and Spurs were left to rue that.

Tottenham threw everything they had at their hosts, and only an uncompromising defensive display kept them out - with the home fans anxiously counting down the minutes.

Teams:

Newcastle Given, Carr, Bramble (Jenas 40), Boumsong, Hughes, Dyer, Bowyer, Faye, Robert (Milner 81), Shearer, Kluivert (Ameobi 68).

Subs Not Used: Harper, Butt.

Booked: Boumsong, Ameobi, Shearer.

Goals: Kluivert 5.

Tottenham Robinson, Pamarot (Marney 80), Naybet (Gardner 88), King, Atouba (Keane 63), Ziegler, Brown, Carrick, Davies, Defoe, Kanoute.

Subs Not Used: Edman, Cerny.

Booked: Atouba, Brown, Pamarot, Ziegler, Naybet, Davies.

Att: 51,307

Ref: R Styles (Hampshire).