Jim Holden Wembley

to work with amid the pine-tall defenders. Lucas Moura should have scored in the 16th minute, totally free inside the box to meet a clever dink from Erik Lamela but directing his header wide of the post.

Eight minutes later they were close again, this time Lamela hitting the bar with a reaction header as a cross from Jan Vertonghen was deflected into his path.

Every time Newcastle crossed the halfway line, a rare treat, their fans roared with delight. They almost had a counterattacking goal to cheer on the half-hour but Salomon Rondon’s shot was efficiently blocked by Christian Eriksen.

Tottenham had 72 per cent possession of the ball – but could they make it count?

Son had a shot blocked just after the break and Davinson Sanchez headed narrowly wide from the corner.

Llorente might have scored soon after his arrival with a headed chance but it flew high over the bar and he complained he had been blinded by the sun shining in his eyes as he jumped to meet the ball.

When Eriksen’s flick from a corner was brilliantly hooked off the line by Fabian Schar, it seemed Spurs might suffer the fate of title rivals Manchester City, who had lost in midweek to Newcastle.

They had two scares. Rondon headed against the post and Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris made a flying save to keep out a shot from Ayoze Perez.

So the match was heading for a draw... But no, not with this Tottenham team. The late goal arrived just in time and second place in the table looks just fabulous for Pochettino and his smiling players.