Newcastle United 3 Tottenham Hotspur 1 NEWCASTLE United extended their recent good run with an impressive win in front of more than 52,000 at St James Park.

The Magpies have lost only twice - both times to Chelsea - in their last 12 games, and are now just three points behind seventh-placed Spurs.

Glenn Roeder's injury woes increased, however, with goalkeeper Shay Given a major doubt for the Boxing Day's trip to Bolton after going off late on with a groin injury.

Goals by Kieron Dyer, Obafemi Martins and Scott Parker inside the first 35 minutes were enough to beat Martin Jol's side whose goal was a deflected effort from Danny Murphy.

Newcastle made a very impressive start going two up inside seven minutes. Dyer grabbed the first capitalising on a quick break and linking well with Martins before curling an effort inside Paul Robinson's left hand post.

The second arrived four minutes later. Parker looked offside when he exchanged passes with James Milner and his cross from the byline was headed home from six yards by Martins.

Spurs hit back when Pascal Chimbonda's cross fell for Murphy, whose effort hit Steven Taylor before completely wrong-footing Given.

The third was courtesy of a mistake from England keeper Robinson, who fluffed Milner's free-kick, Parker eventually forcing a header over the line.

Spurs showed greater commitment after the break but couldn't find another goal despite Given's injury - the crowd responding magnificently to Pavel Srnicek's introduction with just a few minutes left.