This old dog can learn new tricks after all.

The common consensus might be that Jose Mourinho’s magic has long since worn off, something even fans of his current club would probably already attest to.

But 16 years after he first swept onto these shores as the self-styled Special One, this greyer and grumpier manager pulled of a first in his career – winning a Premier League match at St James’ Park.

It is a quirky statistic, given how he conquered all corners of the country with Chelsea in his earlier days.

Yet in seven previous top-flight visits to Tyneside with the Blues and Manchester United, the best Mourinho ever left with was a point, losing four times.

You would not have had money on him ending his hoodoo here with Tottenham considering the way his side had performed on their travels since the Premier League resumed.

But Mourinho managed just that against Steve Bruce’s side – and it was his interventions from the touchline which made the difference.

Spurs’ opener came straight after the mid-half drinks break, when some choice words from Mourinho led to Son Heung-Min scoring.

After Matt Ritchie’s second-half equaliser for Newcastle, the Tottenham boss immediately introduced Steven Bergwijn, whose cross was finished by Harry Kane.

And even Spurs’ second came courtesy of another Mourinho substitute, as Erik Lamela’s shot was stopped and Kane nodded in the rebound for his second.

This victory for Mourinho’s men sees them climb above Sheffield United – who visit Leicester on Thursday– into a seventh place which may be enough to qualify for the Europa League.

While despite an admiral display, this was a third straight defeat for Bruce’s Newcastle, who stay stuck in 13th with their top-half hopes already over.

If anyone deserved a win it was Serge Aurier, who was a surprise starter for Spurs just two days after his younger brother Christopher was shot dead outside a nightclub in Toulouse.

Mourinho revealed the right-back requested to play before he flies to France to be with his family on Thursday – and each of his team-mates made a beeline to hug him before kick-off.

That compassion seemed to extend to their hosts in the early stages as Miguel Almiron was twice presented with opportunities to score in the sixth minute.

His first goalbound effort was diverted wide by the head of Davinson Sanchez, then from the resulting corner he ballooned over from 12 yards after Ritchie found him with a clever cut back.

Jonjo Shelvey, the late scorer in Newcastle’s last home match against West Ham, headed another chance over from a Ritchie cross.

But a talking to from Mourinho at the first drinks break did the trick for Tottenham as they went ahead in the 27th minute with their first meaningful attack.

Aurier was involved, his cross being cut out by Fabian Schar who then took a clumsy, heavy touch as he tried to walk the ball out and was intercepted by Lucas Moura.

A quick exchange of passes between Moura, Harry Kane and Giovani Lo Celso found Son on the left-edge of the area, and he shifted inside before squeezing a shot through the legs of DeAndre Yedlin to beat Martin Dubravka at his near post.

Son, who also scored in Sunday’s North London derby victory, nearly had a second soon after when his 25-yard effort took a nick off Emil Krafth and needed the diving Dubravka to tip over.

The next interval, though, favoured the hosts, who started the second half the stronger before an early Bruce switch brought about an equaliser.

Valentino Lazara, who had only been on a minute, ran at the heart of the Spurs defence and though he eventually lost control, Aurier carelessly cleared the ball straight to Matt Ritchie, who smashed a stunning strike past Hugo Lloris from the left angle of the box.

Mourinho instantly acted by bringing Steven Bergwijn on for Lucas Moura – and just like Bruce, his substitution did the damage.

Only three minutes after his introduction, Bergwijn hooked a cross in from the right to Kane, who peeled off the back of Krafth and steered his header across Dubravka for his 200th club career goal in his 350th appearance.

And Kane grabbed his second in the last minute, heading in the rebound after Lamela raced through the Newcastle defence and saw his shot stopped by Dubravka.

source:- allfootballapp