Irish winger Damien Duff came off the bench to fire fast-improving Newcastle to a last-minute 2-1 victory over Tottenham.
The Republic of Ireland midfielder had only been on the pitch for two minutes when he combined superbly with fellow substitute Mark Viduka before beating goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes.
Spurs midfielder Luka Modric cancelled out Charles N'Zogbia's 11th-minute opener 17 minutes later, but it was Duff who had the final say.
Newcastle striker Obafemi Martins was denied the opportunity to score in a fifth successive league game against Tottenham when a groin injury ruled him out of this afternoon's clash.
The Nigerian, who sustained the problem just before putting his side 2-0 ahead at Portsmouth last weekend, was replaced by Shola Ameobi in the only change to Joe Kinnear's starting line-up.
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp welcomed back Roman Pavlyuchenko, Vedran Corluka, Ledley King, Aaron Lennon and Benoit Assou-Ekotto, who sat out the 2-2 UEFA Cup draw with Spartak Moscow in midweek.
Fraizer Campbell, Gareth Bale, Chris Gunter, Gilberto and Jamie O'Hara were the men to make way as the visitors looked for a repeat of their 2-1 Carling Cup win at St James' Park back in September.
The visitors lined up with Pavlyuchenko playing as a lone striker, with support from former Magpies target Luka Modric and wingers Lennon and David Bentley.
Lennon was in action within two minutes of the kick-off when he received Michael Dawson's long ball and cut inside left-back Jose Enrique.
Danny Guthrie got in an important block, but the ball broke back to the winger and he drilled a cross across the face of Shay Given's goal with no-one able to get a decisive touch.
Newcastle created their first chance five minutes later when Jonas Gutierrez forced Assou-Ekotto to concede a right-wing corner.
Fabricio Coloccini headed down Guthrie's set-piece to Sebastien Bassong, who scuffed his volley.
Given had to punch away a looping header from Dawson after he met Bentley's eighth-minute corner in a lively start.
Dawson then had to block a shot from Charles N'Zogbia after 11 minutes, but the Frenchman was not to be denied as the home side took the direct route seconds later.
N'Zogbia managed to reach Given's clearance before Assou-Ekotto, and although the defender recovered to hold him up, the midfielder turned smartly to fire right-footed past goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes.
Enrique, who had earlier been booked for a foul on Lennon, was having a torrid time with the England international running at him at every opportunity.
For all the pressure they were exerting, Redknapp's men were failing to make the most of it as a series of set-pieces ended up in Given's waiting arms.
N'Zogbia, who has been linked with the north London club this season, was enjoying his afternoon and forced his way into another promising position with 27 minutes gone.
He worked his way into the box from the left and blasted a shot towards Gomes' near post, forcing the keeper to punch it away.
However, the visitors were back on terms a minute later when Dawson's strong challenge on Ameobi saw him lift the ball over the top to Modric, and as the home defence hesitated with Pavlyuchenko working his way back from an offside position, the Croatian ran in unopposed to beat Given.
Ameobi limped off before the restart to be replaced by Mark Viduka as Kinnear's side set about the task of restoring their lead.
The momentum was very much with Spurs and Enrique had to intervene to prevent Modric reaching Pavlyuchenko's return pass.
And the Spaniard did even better to deny the Russian seconds later, just getting ahead of him to clear as he prepared to shoot at the near post.
Michael Owen flicked a 39th-minute header well wide from an N'Zogbia cross as Newcastle responded, and King had to make an important challenge to dispossess Viduka on the edge of the box four minutes later.
Spurs were on the attack once again within seconds of the restart when the home defence failed to deal adequately with a Modric cross and central defender Dawson shot acrobatically over the bar from close range.
Newcastle were seeing plenty of the ball, but with the visitors pressing them in possession, were unable to create any meaningful openings in the early stages of the half.
However, N'Zogbia caused problems down the left once again with 50 minutes gone when he smashed the ball across the face of goal and Dawson managed to stab it away.
Modric continued to put the Magpies under extreme pressure, and Habib Beye conceded a free-kick for bringing him down as he threatened to break free down the left two minutes later.
But Viduka was beginning to have an impact at the other end, holding the ball up well for the support to reach him, although too often the final pass was inaccurate.
Nicky Butt was enjoying another solid performance, and sensed a chance for glory with 56 minutes gone when he beat Modric to the ball and went for goal from distance, although he sliced his effort horribly wide.
Tottenham started to impose themselves once again with Bentley in the thick of it down the left and the game opening up.
They thought they were in with 62 minutes gone when Lennon cut inside to slip the ball through for Tom Huddlestone, but Sebastien Bassong got a touch before Given cleared with the midfielder earning a booking for going to ground under his challenge.
Pavlyuchenko made way from Campbell three minutes later as Redknapp introduced fresh legs, but it was Bentley who forced Given into a decent 69th-minute save when his shot reared up off Fabricio Coloccini.
Owen had a glorious opportunity to make it 2-1 when Viduka laid off an N'Zogbia cross to him six yards out, although his disappointment at lifting the ball over the top was eased by an offside flag.
Campbell flicked a header well wide from Bentley's 83rd-minute cross, but it was his side which looked the more likely to snatch victory as the clock ran down.
The on-loan Manchester United striker just failed to connect with Lennon's cross two minutes later, but the twist in the tail was to come at the other end.
Damien Duff, who had replaced Enrique two minutes earlier, played a superb one-two with Viduka and slid a left-foot shot past Gomes to snatch an invaluable win in the final minute of normal time.
Spurs midfielder Luka Modric cancelled out Charles N'Zogbia's 11th-minute opener 17 minutes later, but it was Duff who had the final say.
Newcastle striker Obafemi Martins was denied the opportunity to score in a fifth successive league game against Tottenham when a groin injury ruled him out of this afternoon's clash.
The Nigerian, who sustained the problem just before putting his side 2-0 ahead at Portsmouth last weekend, was replaced by Shola Ameobi in the only change to Joe Kinnear's starting line-up.
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp welcomed back Roman Pavlyuchenko, Vedran Corluka, Ledley King, Aaron Lennon and Benoit Assou-Ekotto, who sat out the 2-2 UEFA Cup draw with Spartak Moscow in midweek.
Fraizer Campbell, Gareth Bale, Chris Gunter, Gilberto and Jamie O'Hara were the men to make way as the visitors looked for a repeat of their 2-1 Carling Cup win at St James' Park back in September.
The visitors lined up with Pavlyuchenko playing as a lone striker, with support from former Magpies target Luka Modric and wingers Lennon and David Bentley.
Lennon was in action within two minutes of the kick-off when he received Michael Dawson's long ball and cut inside left-back Jose Enrique.
Danny Guthrie got in an important block, but the ball broke back to the winger and he drilled a cross across the face of Shay Given's goal with no-one able to get a decisive touch.
Newcastle created their first chance five minutes later when Jonas Gutierrez forced Assou-Ekotto to concede a right-wing corner.
Fabricio Coloccini headed down Guthrie's set-piece to Sebastien Bassong, who scuffed his volley.
Given had to punch away a looping header from Dawson after he met Bentley's eighth-minute corner in a lively start.
Dawson then had to block a shot from Charles N'Zogbia after 11 minutes, but the Frenchman was not to be denied as the home side took the direct route seconds later.
N'Zogbia managed to reach Given's clearance before Assou-Ekotto, and although the defender recovered to hold him up, the midfielder turned smartly to fire right-footed past goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes.
Enrique, who had earlier been booked for a foul on Lennon, was having a torrid time with the England international running at him at every opportunity.
For all the pressure they were exerting, Redknapp's men were failing to make the most of it as a series of set-pieces ended up in Given's waiting arms.
N'Zogbia, who has been linked with the north London club this season, was enjoying his afternoon and forced his way into another promising position with 27 minutes gone.
He worked his way into the box from the left and blasted a shot towards Gomes' near post, forcing the keeper to punch it away.
However, the visitors were back on terms a minute later when Dawson's strong challenge on Ameobi saw him lift the ball over the top to Modric, and as the home defence hesitated with Pavlyuchenko working his way back from an offside position, the Croatian ran in unopposed to beat Given.
Ameobi limped off before the restart to be replaced by Mark Viduka as Kinnear's side set about the task of restoring their lead.
The momentum was very much with Spurs and Enrique had to intervene to prevent Modric reaching Pavlyuchenko's return pass.
And the Spaniard did even better to deny the Russian seconds later, just getting ahead of him to clear as he prepared to shoot at the near post.
Michael Owen flicked a 39th-minute header well wide from an N'Zogbia cross as Newcastle responded, and King had to make an important challenge to dispossess Viduka on the edge of the box four minutes later.
Spurs were on the attack once again within seconds of the restart when the home defence failed to deal adequately with a Modric cross and central defender Dawson shot acrobatically over the bar from close range.
Newcastle were seeing plenty of the ball, but with the visitors pressing them in possession, were unable to create any meaningful openings in the early stages of the half.
However, N'Zogbia caused problems down the left once again with 50 minutes gone when he smashed the ball across the face of goal and Dawson managed to stab it away.
Modric continued to put the Magpies under extreme pressure, and Habib Beye conceded a free-kick for bringing him down as he threatened to break free down the left two minutes later.
But Viduka was beginning to have an impact at the other end, holding the ball up well for the support to reach him, although too often the final pass was inaccurate.
Nicky Butt was enjoying another solid performance, and sensed a chance for glory with 56 minutes gone when he beat Modric to the ball and went for goal from distance, although he sliced his effort horribly wide.
Tottenham started to impose themselves once again with Bentley in the thick of it down the left and the game opening up.
They thought they were in with 62 minutes gone when Lennon cut inside to slip the ball through for Tom Huddlestone, but Sebastien Bassong got a touch before Given cleared with the midfielder earning a booking for going to ground under his challenge.
Pavlyuchenko made way from Campbell three minutes later as Redknapp introduced fresh legs, but it was Bentley who forced Given into a decent 69th-minute save when his shot reared up off Fabricio Coloccini.
Owen had a glorious opportunity to make it 2-1 when Viduka laid off an N'Zogbia cross to him six yards out, although his disappointment at lifting the ball over the top was eased by an offside flag.
Campbell flicked a header well wide from Bentley's 83rd-minute cross, but it was his side which looked the more likely to snatch victory as the clock ran down.
The on-loan Manchester United striker just failed to connect with Lennon's cross two minutes later, but the twist in the tail was to come at the other end.
Damien Duff, who had replaced Enrique two minutes earlier, played a superb one-two with Viduka and slid a left-foot shot past Gomes to snatch an invaluable win in the final minute of normal time.
