NEWCASTLE ended their run of four successive defeats with a resounding victory over Champions League hopefuls Tottenham. Lee Bowyer started the ball rolling after two minutes, and although Robbie Keane levelled on 19 minutes, Shola Ameobi restored his side's lead six minutes later. But it was left to skipper Alan Shearer, making his 300th Premiership appearance for the club, to wrap up the points after just 30 minutes with a clinical penalty.

They could hardly have got off to a better start, taking the lead with only 66 seconds gone. Charles N'Zogbia picked up possession wide on the left and played the ball in towards skipper Shearer, who dummied it to Nolberto Solano. The Peruvian returned it into N'Zogbia's run in behind full-back Stephen Kelly, and he squared for Bowyer to slide home his first Premiership goal of the season.

Shola Ameobi whistled a left-foot shot wide on five minutes. Shearer passed up a glorious opportunity to make it 2-0 three minutes later when he failed to connect with an inviting Elliott cross six yards out. And his side were made to pay on 18 minutes when Aaron Lennon turned Stephen Carr inside out and crossed for Keane to head the equaliser and keep up his impressive scoring run.

However, Ameobi soon fired his side back in front.

Solano's blistering shot was too hot for Robinson to hold and when it came back off him, Ameobi was first to react. There was better to come for the home side on the half-hour mark after Edgar Davids inexplicably pushed Bowyer to the ground inside the box after Shearer and Solano had once again carved the Tottenham defence apart. Shearer stepped up to smash home the penalty for his 11th goal of the season and 203rd for the club to make it 3-1.

Spurs went about making a game of it in the second half but there chances were dealt a major blow on 61 minutes when Michael Dawson, who had earlier been booked for a foul on Emre, tugged Shearer's shirt and was dismissed.

After that, Newcastle were always comfortable and Bowyer passed up a good opportunity to score a fourth late in the game.