The previous two visits from Tottenham to St James' Park, had yielded ten goals for the Magpies, conceding just one. However, on the first Sunday of September, it was much less comfortable for those in black and white.
The Toon started positively but with not much reward. Alexander Isak almost caught out Spurs keeper Guglielmo Vicario with a deft chip from just outside the right side of the box.
Harvey Barnes then went just wide with a vicious effort from outside the area, just bending it past the right past, before Lloyd Kelly's header went marginally over the bar, following an Anthony Gordon corner.
The Lilywhites came back with half-chances of their own, with Pedro Porro and Pape Matar Sarr going close from long-range.
However, it was the hosts who scored the important first goal, Barnes connecting to a Kelly cross to divert the ball into the far corner past Vicario, to make the half-time score 1-0.
Spurs came out firing after the break, however, and put the Toon under heavy pressure, with Wilson Odobert somehow missing a gilt-edged opportunity at the back post.
The momentum had well and truly switched, and not long after the Frenchman missed, Tottenham got their deserved goals, albeit in slightly farcical circumstances.
James Maddison's strike from the edge of the area was parried by Nick Pope before Brennan Johnson followed in. The Welsh Internationals shot, struck Pope, before striking Dan Burn, whose attempted clearance, found the top of the net at the Gallowgate End.
The onslaught from the visitors continued, with Porro continuing to try and score from long-range before Maddison forced an excellent save out of Pope.
It was the Magpies who struck next, however, after a brilliant pass from Joelinton, set up substitute Jacob Murphy, who unselfishly squared it for last season's top scorer Alexander Isak to tap in.
However, following the toons' goal, there were no further shots from the visitors, as the magpies defended resolutely, to preserve a key three points, to take the position of 5th, and to go into the first international break.
Newcastle Player Ratings
Nick Pope - 7
Six saves for Pope today who backed up his call-up into the recent England squad. However, his poor kicking was highlighted today, with only nine passes successful out of 26.
The goal conceded was not his finest moment, as he should have done better with Johnson's miscued shot across goal, instead parrying it into the leg of Burn.
Tino Livramento - 8
Back to what we saw from Livramento last year. A quite exceptional defensive performance shut out Heung-Min Son, with eight clearances backing up his safe performance on the ball.
He almost had an assist too, as his pass through to Isak set up the Swede with a clear shot, but Radu Dragusin made an exceptional last-man clearance. Another player drafted into the Three Lions squad, the 23-year-old is just starting to build up form.
Emil Krafth - 6.5
Krafth is likely to have started his last league game for most of the season, with Fabian Schar likely to come back into the team after the conclusion of his suspension.
However, Krafth once again showed he is a reliable back-up, and backed up his good form with a solid performance, keeping fellow countryman Dejan Kulusevski quiet. Not as busy on the ball as he was at the City Ground on Wednesday, but tidy nonetheless.
Dan Burn - 7
Another excellent defensive performance from the Blyth-born defender. Own-goal aside, which wasn't his fault in reality, another very solid off-the-ball performance, featuring three duels won from five, as well as seven clearances.
Similar to his centre-back partner Krafth, he was quiet on the ball with only 38 touches as Spurs dominated possession but was extra-reliable when called on completing 81% of his passes.
Lloyd Kelly - 7
Kelly had a mixed game. Brought to the club in the summer as a left-back, more suited to Howe's system than Burn, the Englishman's defensive capabilities have always been strong, as shown at St James' with four clearances and an interception.
In attack, he was quiet, with the exception of a brilliant assist for the first goal from Barnes, where Kelly's low cross perfectly picked out the winger. Perhaps should have had a goal for himself as well, when he headed narrowly over from a corner.
He may well play instead of Lewis Hall for weeks to come, despite the 19-year-old's vast improvement over recent months.
Sean Longstaff - 6.5
Despite not being as glamorous as his midfield counterparts, the Newcastle academy graduate once again backed up his selection with a tidy performance in the middle of the park.
Accurate with passes, and winning nine duels, Longstaff once again proved that he has the ability to be part of the squad in the future, even if his current position is up for grabs following the return of Sandro Tonali, who came on for Longstaff in the 68th minute.
Bruno Guimaraes - 5
Nowhere near his best, but with only 46 touches, that is expected. 100 touches in his last game against Bournemouth, the Brazilian was a passenger in midfield for most of the game, completing only 18 passes.
Defensively, however, he won only seven of his sixteen duels and lost possession 12 times, as well as being dribbled past twice. Even the best have off days, and this certainly was one.
Joelinton - 5.5
Similar to his fellow Brazilian Guimaraes, Joelinton was once again quiet as Spurs dictated the game in midfield. His one moment of quality was the pass through to Jacob Murphy, leading to the Magpies second goal.
Winning only three out of fourteen duels in midfield, the 28-year-old lost possession 14 times and committed a game-high five fouls, this was another performance to forget on the whole for the Brazilian.
Anthony Gordon - 5.5
Switched to the right side of the attack, Gordon was once again very ineffective, in comparison to last season's world-class performances. Losing the ball 21 times, the Englishman completed just one dribble and was accurate in only 58% of his passes.
Despite his poor start to the season, he has been on the receiving end of an England call-up, but with Barnes performing very well on the left, Gordon finally has some much-needed competition for his place in the starting eleven.
Alexander Isak - 6.5
His goal masked another isolated performance from Isak. Completing a mere nine passes, and with just 29 touches of the ball, his performance can be excused, but his lack of involvement in the game will worry Eddie Howe.
After hitting the bar in the first five minutes, his goal after 78 minutes was only his third shot, the other being blocked. He won only three duels and lost possession on ten occasions, Isak needs to pick up his game before Callum Wilson returns from injury.
Harvey Barnes - 7
Barnes started the season as the second choice on the left wing, but his last two Premier League appearances have likely secured him a starting place in the near future.
He took his goal very well against Spurs and did nothing wrong on the ball, but managed just 15 touches, the lowest of anyone to start the game, which included only 4 passes. Should have secured his spot for the time being after the international break, however.
Substitutes:
Jacob Murphy - 6
His assist for Isak's goal was very straightforward, but other than the pass, his effect on the pitch was very limited. Losing the ball eight times, he completed just seven passes and won no duels. Murphy had a brilliant pre-season, but his weaknesses are starting to show.
Lewis Hall - 6.5
Another very quiet substitute appearance from Hall, who appears to have lost his previously strong starting eleven spot to Lloyd Kelly. In 25 minutes against Spurs, he managed a mere ten touches, losing possession twice, but defensively, his positioning was improved and had better awareness.
Sandro Tonali - 6.5
On his eagerly anticipated return to competitive football at St James Park, the Italian was relatively subdued and was forced to work hard off the ball, to help ensure Newcastle remained in the lead. Losing possession just once in almost 30 minutes, he showed his quality well and will be looking to be back in the starting eleven after the international break.