Spurs heap more misery on Magpies

11:30pm Wednesday 24th September 2008

Roman Pavlyuchenko's first goal in English football helped to pile further pressure on managerless Newcastle as they lost 2-1 to Tottenham in the Carling Cup.

The Russian, a £13.8million summer arrival at White Hart Lane, thumped home a 62nd-minute free header to put holders Spurs on the road to their first domestic victory of the season.

Midfielder Jamie O'Hara sealed the win four minutes later when he capitalised on a dreadful error by Steven Taylor to fire past the stranded Shay Given. Michael Owen's 90th-minute strike could not prevent the Magpies' slipping to a fourth successive defeat and left a bemused crowd of just 20,577 facing a winter of discontent with owner Mike Ashley's masterplan having been torn to pieces.

Newcastle had beaten Spurs in each of the last five meetings between the two sides home and away, but extending that record never looked likely as they struggled to create chances in the first half. But Spurs created little more with Pavlyuchenko coming closest as he headed wide.

The host's problems might have eased significantly within three minutes of the restart had it not been for the watchfulness of former Magpie Jonathan Woodgate. Obafemi Martins' clever flick put Damien Duff in on goal and he slid the ball past Spurs goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes only for the England defender to get in a vital touch to clear.

Spurs boss Juande Ramos introduced Giovani dos Santos as a 53rd-minute replacement for Gareth Bale and his arrival seemed to spark the game into life.

Full-back Benoit Assou-Ekotto had already tested Given with a rising drive but Pavlyuchenko somehow failed to convert Giovani's 58th-minute cross from point-blank range.

However, he did not have to wait long to redeem himself when, after Owen had forced a save from Gomes at the other end, he powered a header past the helpless Given from Aaron Lennon's 62nd-minute cross.

The game was effectively over when Taylor's horrendous error gifted O'Hara a second four minutes later.

Newcastle's response saw them pile forward in the search for a lifeline and Owen struck in the 90th minute to spark hopes of a late comeback. But it was all too late and the crowd's response on the final whistle was predictable.

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