Matthias Jaissle's unbeaten start to life at United continued on Saturday with a first Premier League success; second half goals from Anthony Elanga and Yoane Wissa earning a deserved victory in N17.

For the all of the impact of the new signings, for the rejuvenated duo have carried their World Cup form into the club season is a major boost to everyone of a Magpie persuasion.

Seeing Elanga net in successive Premier League games and Wissa double his PL tally for the club for once validates that old "like a new signing" chestnut.

Both look unrecognisable from last season: with smiles on their faces where they previously looked weighed down. Somewhere, a certain E.Howe is shaking his head somewhere...

The opening 45 minutes ended scoreless as United dealt with the attacking attempts of the hosts without showing too much as an attacking force, save for an early effort from Elanga that looped over Antonin Kinsky's goal. Spurs had more sights of goal, but never achieved any dominance.

Having played within themselves during their manager's first 45 minutes on the road, Jaissle's side began to push forward and ask more questions of an insubstantial home back line. Post match comments from debutant Nico Gonzalez confirmed that they were told to be more aggressive.

A fabulous ball forward from Lewis Miley was chested down on the edge of the box for Hall to fire over the crossbar, before the left back set Elanga in on goal, only for a heavy first touch to take the ball away from even him.

Within minutes though, the Swede had taken his next chance and once the crucial second goal was scored, further ones could have come as gaps began to open up.

The opener stemmed from a fine ball by debutant Gonzalez to Amar Dedic; his header to Elanga allowing him to twist away from old boy Sandro Tonali before firing home via the far post.

Within ten minutes the blue-clad Magpies doubled their lead from Lewis Hall's right wing corner. That was headed down by substitute Nick Woltemade for Wissa to cheekily convert with a flicked kick.

United's number nine was pleasingly played onside by Tonali, who was substituted soon after amid loud cheers. The Italian had enduring strident boos and taunts all game, including "one greedy b*stard", "Sandro, Sandro what's the score?" and "you should have stayed at a big club."

As was the case with Alexander Isak last weekend, Tonali provided no hint of a return on the vast investment made in him. Given that Italy weren't at the World Cup and joined Spurs on July 6th though, the comments of his Brescia buddy De Zerbi made no sense. How come he's so unfit? Did he really just spend all summer, drinking Moretti and eating spaghetti?

At the other end, Lukas Hornicek made some fine saves and was in the right place to deny debutant Omar Marmoush his usual goal against us, while Hall cleared off the line after a clever flick from Dominic Solanke late on.

Home fans deserted their places in numbers well in advance of the four minutes of added time - a smaller allowance than anticipated, given the formation dance routines that followed both goals....

Victory saw Newcastle climb to third in the table while Spurs sank to the bottom despite their lavish spending spree. Some of the names may have changed, but as yet, many of the same flaws remain -including an inability to stay on their feet. "Spurs, you can tell, man" as Jimmy Nail once said.

This was our third consecutive win here and a fifth in the eight visits since the place opened. As the gleeful travelling support sang, "Tottenham Hotspur, it's happened again."  It may not be as much of a novelty any more, but the joy of beating this lot on their own ground remains undiminished.

PS: Although nothing emerged from the midweek Carabao Cup success, the first Premier League win of the season was captured by posterity by a club dressing room photo. And why not?

Biffa