On a day when they debuted a new sensory shirt benefiting deaf fans, Newcastle shook Champions League hopefuls Tottenham Hotspur in the Saturday lunchtime kick-off, those of a home persuasion inside St. James' Park picking up good vibrations.

Almost a year to the day that they'd pulverised the Cockerels 6-1, there was little anticipation of a similar showing. As it turned out though, this four goal victory was every bit as emphatic as 2023's.

Losing Lewis Hall and Joe Willock following the previous Saturday's victory at Fulham, Eddie Howe adopted a flexible back three/five approach and was able to name a front trio comprising of messrs Gordon, Barnes and Isak starting together for the first time.  

United started the brighter of the two sides and half chances for Harvey Barnes and Elliot Anderson in the first quarter could easily have led to the opener, Timo Werner badly miscuing an even more presentable chance at the other end.

There was a nagging concern that Emil Krafth's lack of pace would be exposed after he was turned twice early on, but with James Maddison more interested in fouling and histrionics than using his undoubted skill, that perennial thorn in our side Son Heung Min was crucially short on support. 

Once ahead, United simply blew away the visitors with two goals in each half: Alexander Isak added a brace to his phenomenal tally on a day when a first Toon treble was within his grasp.  Two expert strikes took him to 21 in all competitions this season - 17 in the Premier League - Anthony Gordon and Fabian Schar completing the rout with fine finishes of their own.

Newcastle's opener came on the half hour, Gordon taking Bruno's pass from the edge of his own area and eluding Destiny Udogie before heading goalwards and slipping a pass beyond Cristian Romero to Isak. He coolly left Micky van de Ven on his backside before emphatically firing past Guglielmo Vicario.

He was fishing the ball out of the net again 95 seconds later; Dan Burn's ball down the left touchline falling to Pedro Porro, who inexplicably tried to volley the ball back to his goalkeeper. That gifted Gordon possession and he dumped van de Ven on his Dutch derriere again, stepping infield before looping his shot home from six yards out. 

From then on, Newcastle completely controlled a Spurs side as nondescript as their kit, seemingly fashioned from old army blankets. Back with a vengeance was the energetic and aggressive press, crucially combined with intelligent covering when the visitors threatened to break out.

Visiting boss Ange Postecglou emerged early for the second period but his team showed rather less enthusiasm and just six minutes into the second half, Isak strode clear of the Spurs high line to tuck the ball home.

Celebrations were slightly muted in anticipation of a VAR check for offside, but the linesman's decision was ratified with the scorer a yard inside his own half when Bruno Guimaraes played it forward.

Three goals to the good, the hosts were content to soak up pressure from a Spurs side who retained the ball outside the United box but seldom looked like testing Dubravka. Post-match statistics revealed that United barely had a quarter of overall possession.

Having won umpteen corners and claimed possession from them without scoring, Emil Krafth's volley after an 80th minute flag kick looked to have born fruit - only to glance off the goal frame.

However one of his defensive colleagues would make a late breakthrough, Fabian Schar powerfully heading home Gordon's corner three minutes from the end to send the last remaining Spurs fans to the exits, with chants of "it's happened again" ringing in their ears from gloating home followers.

They may have come at different times and in different contexts - notably the day that an already relegated Magpies side wiped the floor with Spurs here in 2016 - but the delicious delight in sticking it up this lot at Gallowgate never gets old.   

Three points took Newcastle above West Ham and Manchester United into sixth - our highest placing since last December. Howe's side then retained that position on goal difference after the Red Devils drew 2-2 at Bournemouth on Saturday teatime.

Sunday then brought the bonus of a 0-2 home loss for West Ham at the hands of Fulham, leaving the Hammers two points behind Newcastle and having now played a game more than ourselves.

Despite the ongoing dismay over not beating Everton here, ten points out of 12 since losing the FA Cup Quarter Final has rekindled our season, not only in the stands but also in the dressing room. 

That's despite the ongoing injury issues and unexplained absence of Trippier from the squad, involved in promotional work with the RNID shirt but absent from the post-match victory photo.

Howe has been unfairly compared to more illustrious bosses by some in recent weeks, but today this victory was achieved by a side doing it his way, disciplined, dangerous and organised.

Biffa/Niall MacKenzie