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By MATT BARLOW Published: 01: 34 AEDT, 5 January 2025 | Updated: 04: 19 AEDT, 5 January 2025 153 View comments Newcastle's revival rolls on, gathering momentum with a sixth successive victory and sharpening their Champions League credentials. Stepping into a New Year as they exited the old one, looking strong at the back, slick on the break and Alexander Isak among the goals. Isak scored the winner. Not his finest of the season, scuffed into an open goal from a couple of yards but he now has 14 for the season and goals in each of his last seven Premier League games. Indeed, this was not a vintage performance, but nobody in the away end was complaining as their team eased within two points of the top four. Eddie Howe, overlooked for the England job, can take satisfaction from his first win of the season in London, achieved in the presence of Thomas Tuchel, belatedly starting his new job with a ticket in the VIP seats. Tottenham was Tuchel's favourite team when he fell under the spell of English football as a boy in Germany. He liked the name, apparently, but all Spurs fans continue to suffer. For them, a new year has brought more of the same old problems. Only worse. On top of a crisis of injuries which shows no sign of yielding, Ange Postecoglou was missing players who had fallen to a sickness bug in the camp. They were dropping like flies. Fraser Forster was bedridden leaving Brandon Austin to make his debut in goal. Radu Dragusin could not make it out for the second half leaving Spurs without a recognised centre half on the pitch. Alexander Isak scored the winner as Newcastle came from behind to beat Tottenham 2-1 Isak netted what proved to be the decisive goal of the game in the 38th minute There was further frustration for Ange Postecoglou as his Tottenham side were beaten Archie Gray played 90 minutes in central defence despite suffering illness all week and played at the heart of defence with Djed Spence for the second half. Somehow, his depleted team produced a spirited second half performance. In fact, one of their most encouraging halves in recent weeks and the manager deserves credit for his courage. They almost got a point when Postecoglou sent on senior players omitted from the team, including captain Heung-min Son and vice-captain James Maddison, who went close in the closing minutes with a curling effort. Dominic Solanke came closest to an equaliser, his header too close to goalkeeper Martin Dubravka in stoppage time. Solanke had scored the first of the game, escaping Sven Botman and diving to head in a cross from Pedro Porro in the fourth minute. The lead, though, did not last. Brandon Austin, on his Tottenham debut, impressed with his aerial presence, pulling crosses cleanly out of the air and weathering the physical attention at set pieces, but he was picking the ball out of his net within six minutes, a controversial goal finished by Anthony Gordon Lucas Bergvall, the Swedish teenager preferred to Yves Bissouma midfield, had a pass out of defence intercepted by Joelinton. Bruno Guimaraes pounced on the loose ball and released Gordon who applied a confident finish. There was a long VAR check when it became clear Joelinton's interception had been made with his left hand, but the goal was allowed to stand. The VAR Chris Kavanagh decided his hand had been by his side in a natural position and that contact was accidental. Postecoglou fumed on the touchline and his assistant Matt Wells took the complaints to the fourth official Lewis Smith. They were aggrieved because Bergvall's pass had been intended for Porro and when it was cut out, the right back was stranded far out of position, which left Gordon in yards of space. Dominic Solanke celebrates after he gave Tottenham the lead with just four minutes gone Tottenham's lead only lasted two minutes before Anthony Gordon equalised for Newcastle Brandon Austin made his Tottenham debut with Fraser Forster missing out due to illness New England boss Thomas Tuchel and assistant Anthony Barry were in attendance The home crowd turned on the officials and Spurs a little composure. Newcastle took control and dominated until the interval. Austin saved from Gordon and Isak missed a glorious chance from six yards before claiming his 14th goal of the season. Tottenham:  Austin, Porro, Dragusin (Reguilon 46), Gray, Spence, Bergvall (Maddison 62), Sarr (Bissouma 62), Johnson, Kulusevski, Werner (Son Heung-min 62), Solanke Subs: Whiteman, Hardy, Dorrington, Olusesi, Lankshear  Goal: Solanke 4  Booked: Reguilon Newcastle: Dubravka, Livramento, Botman (Kelly 90), Burn, Hall, Guimaraes, Tonali, Joelinton, Murphy (Longstaff 86), Isak (Willock 86), Gordon (Barnes 78) Subs: Vlachodimos, Trippier, Osula, Almiron, Miley Goals: Gordon 6, Isak 38  Booked: Burn, Botman, Joelinton, Isak Jacob Murphy crossed low from the right, Dragusin lunged to cut it out but turned it towards his own goal and Isak pounced to sweep it into an empty net. Gordon and Joelinton had chances to extend the lead and it seemed briefly as if Newcastle might run away with it. As it turned out, Spurs hung on and improved when Postecoglou's manpower problems deepened. Pape Matar Sarr forced a good low save from Dubravka and Brennan Johnson fired the rebound against a post. Newcastle remained dangerous on the break. Gordon fired over after Gray blocked from Sandro Tonali. Then Gordon suffered a bloodied nose in a collision with Dejan Kulusevski. Bloodied but unbowed and on the climb. 'Massive two games for us, ' said Howe as he reflected on six points from trip to Manchester United and Spurs. 'Our away form has been a bit patchy for a period and only winning gives you the confidence to win at any ground and in any situation. 'The most pleasing thing how we reacted to going 1-0 down. There was a calmness and a mature response, scoring so quickly and dominating first half. Good signs, I think. ' Both teams head into the Carabao Cup semi-finals. One in better mood than the other. Tottenham remain on a sorry run of results, now only one win in eight Premier League games and with pressure increasing on Postecoglou despite his pride in this performance. Published by Associated Newspapers Ltd Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group