Newcastle 2 Tottenham 1:Damien Duff came off the bench to fire Newcastle to a sixth successive Premier League win over Tottenham in yet another dramatic finish at St James' Park.

The Republic of Ireland midfielder snatched victory in the 90th minute after combining brilliantly with fellow substitute Mark Viduka just as it looked as if his side would have to settle for a third successive home draw.

It was hard luck on Spurs, who had played their part in a tight contest and had looked the more likely winners until Duff's late intervention.

The win came as a huge relief to Newcastle boss Joe Kinnear, who had seen his side concede late goals to draw with both Wigan and Stoke in the previous two home games.

Luka Modric, a Newcastle target before he opted to move to White Hart Lane, looked to have denied the Magpies with a 28th minute equaliser with the home side appealing in vain for an offside flag.

That cancelled out Charles N'Zogbia's 11th-minute opener after he had run on to Shay Given's towering clearance and got the better of covering defender Benoit Assou-Ekotto to score.

However, it was the visitors who looked the more likely victors as time ran down with substitute Frazier Campbell going close twice in the dying minutes in front of an increasingly anxious black and white contingent among a crowd of 47,982.

But that was before Duff, introduced two minutes from time as a replacement for full back Jose Enrique, rewarded Kinnear for his positivity.