Newcastle blasted their way into the FA Cup fourth round as they demolished Spurs with a powerful display of attacking football at St James' Park on Wednesday night.

On a night when it was feared that French flair could undo the Magpies, it was good old-fashioned British beef - aided by a touch of Greek power - which held sway as David Ginola suffered another disappointing visit to Tyneside.

In truth, the Frenchman always looked his side's best player until he was substituted 15 minutes from time, and it was he who beat Steve Harper with a 33rd-minute shot to claim his side's only goal.

But by then Spurs were already 2-0 down through goals from Gary Speed and Nikos Dabizas, and further strikes from Duncan Ferguson, Kieron Dyer and an Alan Shearer double - his first goals in eight games - killed the tie off.

Ferguson was in superb form as he gave the Tottenham defence a torrid time, and Dyer's cameo as a substitute had the home crowd on their feet.

The result was all the more remarkable because manager Bobby Robson's options were severely limited by injury and illness, and the only change to the starting line-up which contested the 2-0 Premiership defeat at Bradford on Saturday was Dabizas, who returned from suspension to replace flu victim Alessandro Pistone.

Shearer and Ferguson continued in attack, with Kevin Gallacher again getting the nod over Dyer who was named among the substitutes.

George Graham opted to bring back Tim Sherwood and Stephen Clemence in place of the injured Steffen Freund and Chris Armstrong, who started on the bench.

Spurs went into the game without a win in their last five, but there was little danger of Newcastle underestimating a side they were meeting for the sixth time this calendar year.

Everyone concerned had been at pains to stress there would be nothing between the sides before kick-off, but that could hardly have been further from the truth as an exhilarating first half unfolded.

Newcastle were in front with just five minutes gone when Warren Barton sent in a deep cross from the right and Ferguson climbed high to head down for Speed to slide home his second goal in as many games against the north Londoners.

It was 2-0 with 27 minutes gone when Nolberto Solano's corner was perfect for Dabizas to power a header past the helpless Ian Walker.

But if the Newcastle faithful thought they were going to have it all their own way they had to think again within seven minutes.

Ginola was getting his expected hostile reception as he toiled away behind lone striker Steffen Iversen - and although he expressed his dissatisfaction with the way things were going several times he always looked the most likely candidate to drag his side back into it.

Picking up the ball on the edge of the Newcastle penalty area, he jinked on to his left foot before looping a shot over Harper, aided by a deflection off Rob Lee, to reduce the deficit.

Spurs could have been level on 40 minutes when Speed's attempted clearance fell to Clemence, but a superb intervening tackle from Barton preserved his side's lead.

Walker pulled off a stunning low save from Shearer's header a minute later, but he had a hand in United's third on the stroke of half-time.

Barton's cross was too strong for Speed, and Walker looked to have it covered.

But the ball somehow escaped, and Ferguson was on hand to ram it home off the underside of the bar.

Graham had urged referee Graham Poll to be tough before the game, and he ignored Ginola's protestations as he claimed a foul - and it was a dispirited Frenchman who trudged off at the break to the jeers of the fans who once revered him.

Robson sent Spaniard Marcelino on in place of Helder at the break, and it was he who created the first attack of the second half with a long ball up to Ferguson.

The Scot headed down for fellow countryman Gallacher, and he pushed forward before releasing Shearer on the left.

But the striker's first touch was poor, and Sol Campbell recovered to get in an important tackle.

Solano had an effort blocked inadvertently by Perry after good work by Shearer on the right, and Ferguson shot wide on the turn after collecting Gallacher's header.

Allan Nielsen missed from close range from Clemence's 53rd-minute cross as his side's chances began to recede, but it was the introduction of Dyer as a 66th-minute replacement for Gallacher which proved decisive.

The England winger had already gone close after producing a pacy run - but he went one better on 73 minutes when he collected Shearer's pass and nonchalantly side-footed the ball past Walker from 20 yards.

Ginola's unhappy night came to a premature end when he was replaced by Jose Dominguez, and Ferguson was also handed a well-earned rest with Temuri Ketsbaia taking his place.

Vega's foul on Shearer gave the striker a chance to end his goal drought from the penalty spot seven minutes from time, and he collected his first from open play in 11 games two minutes later when he headed home Ketsbaia's cross to complete the rout.

Teams

Newcastle: Harper, Barton, Cristovao (Marcelino 45), Dabizas, Hughes, Solano, Lee, Speed, Gallacher (Dyer 65), Shearer, Ferguson (Ketsbaia 77).

Subs Not Used: Given, Glass.

Booked: Lee, Ferguson.

Goals: Speed 5, Dabizas 27, Ferguson 45, Dyer 73,Shearer 83 pen, 85.

Tottenham: Walker, Young (Fox 22), Vega, Campbell, Perry, Taricco, Sherwood, Clemence, Nielsen, Ginola (Dominguez 74), Iversen, Fox (Armstrong 71).

Subs Not Used: Baardsen, Gower.

Booked: Clemence, Vega.

Goals: Ginola 34.

Att: 35,415.

Ref: G Poll (Tring).