A pair of headers from Fabian Schar and Nick Woltemade sent holders Newcastle United into the Carabao Cup quarter-finals at the expense of Tottenham Hotspur.
Tottenham have hurt a number of sides with their aerial ability this season, particularly at set-plays, but the much-changed hosts gave Thomas Frank’s team a taste of their own medicine at St James’ Park.
Newcastle took the lead midway through the first half when Schar easily rose above Lucas Bergvall to head them in front from Sandro Tonali’s corner.
Spurs players protested to referee Chris Kavanagh as Tonali took the corner just as defender Djed Spence got to his feet after putting his boot back on, but the goal stood.
Woltemade doubled his side’s lead with his sixth goal of the season after the German met Joe Willock’s scooped cross and nodded past goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky, who missed the ball completely.
Spurs went close to immediately pulling one back when midfielder Pape Sarr’s first-time effort forced Aaron Ramsdale into a flying save to his left.
But Newcastle, who also had Harvey Barnes smack the bar with an acrobatic effort, saw the game out to reach the last eight of the competition for the fourth consecutive season, facing Fulham next.
“There is no priority,” said boss Eddie Howe. “We just want to win and win consistently. That’s such a healthy thing for the group to feel.
“The acid test was this game for that because of the changes we made. Was our mentality and mindset going to waver? The most pleasing thing for me was that it didn’t.”
