NEWCASTLE UNITED'S unbeaten start to the season continued at St James' Park this afternoon – courtesy of a late leveller from Shola Ameobi.

Goals from Rafael van der Vaart and Jermain Defoe either side of Demba Ba's first equaliser looked to have done enough for Tottenham to claim a win on Tyneside.

Tottenham took the lead for the first time shortly before the interval.

Steven Taylor's trip on Emmanuel Adebayor inside the box five minutes before half-time conceded a penalty.

Dutchman van der Vaart converted it and that was harsh on Newcastle, but they responded strongly.

Three minutes in to the second half Jonas Gutierrez's run and cross ended with Ba arriving unmarked to score his fifth goal in his last three matches.

But Defoe, on as a substitute, took just four minutes to fire Tottenham back in front in the 68th minute with a sweet left foot strike.

All that did, though, was set the stage for Ameobi. Newcastle's very own super sub crashed a terrific left foot drive inside Brad Friedel's far post.

Newcastle stay fourth and preserve their best unbeaten start to a season since 1994-95.

* For a full report and reaction see tomorrow's The Northern Echo.