Newcastle 2-1 Tottenham

HATEM BEN ARFA struck the winner from the penalty spot as Andre Villas-Boas started his reign as Tottenham boss with defeat.

The Frenchman’s trickery had earned the spot-kick on 80 minutes after he was brought down in the box by Rafa van der Vaart.

It came just three minutes after Spurs had levelled, with Jermain Defoe cancelling out Demba Ba’s 55th-minute opener.

The result was tough on Villas-Boas and Co, who twice struck the woodwork in a goalless first-half.

But Newcastle came out stronger in the second period, the only blot on their copybook coming when boss Alan Pardew was sent to the stands for pushing the referee’s assistant.

BREAKING THE DEADLOCK ... Demba Ba strokes the ball home

While Pardew started with his new signings Vurnon Anita and Romain Amalfitano on the bench, Villas-Boas gave Gylfi Sigurdsson his debut.

The Toon almost took a freak lead in the 22nd minute when Ba hit a weak, bobbling shot that took a touch off Papiss Cisse and almost deceived Brad Friedel.

Tim Krul tipped a Sigurdsson free-kick round the post and Taylor had to be alert to head away the same player’s resulting corner.

Tottenham’s best period saw them twice come agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock as Defoe and Gareth Bale hit the woodwork in quick succession.

Spurs were again on top early in the second, defender James Perch making a superb interception to stop Defoe latching onto Lennon’s cross in front of goal.

LEVELLER ... Jermain Defoe stabs the ball home from close range

But the home side snatched the lead against the run of play in the 55th minute when Danny Simpson’s high ball into the box was only half headed clear by Kyle Walker Ba responded with a delicious curling shot high into the net.

Spurs seemed a little clueless in response, Benoit Assou-Ekotto drilling a long-range effort which was parried by Krul, but the swing in momentum did not placate Pardew, who was sent to the stands on the hour for over-protesting a touchline incident.

Newcastle made their first change in the 70th minute, new boy Anita replacing Yohan Cabaye.

But Spurs were almost level within a minute, Defoe bursting through the static rearguard and hitting a low shot which was well parried by Krul.

CLASH ... Alan Pardew argues with the assitant referee

Spurs grabbed their deserved equaliser in the 76th minute when Lennon crossed into a crowded box and Defoe wriggled free to fire past Krul at the second attempt after his initial header had been parried by the keeper.

But the point only lasted four minutes before Van der Vaart was rightly penalised for tripping Ben Arfa in the left side of the box.

And the Frenchman picked himself up to send Friedel the wrong way from the spot.

Jonas Gutierrez almost extended Newcastle’s lead with an ambitious looping effort which Friedel tipped over the bar, while Spurs’ increasingly desperate final forward forays lacked the sharpness to trouble Krul.

Newcastle: Krul, Simpson, Steven Taylor, Perch, Santon, Ben Arfa, Tiote, Cabaye (Anita 71), Gutierrez, Cisse, Ba (Obertan 85). Subs Not Used: Harper, Williamson, Gosling, Ryan Taylor, Shola Ameobi.

Booked: Simpson, Cabaye.

Goals: Ba 54, Ben Arfa 80 pen.

Tottenham: Friedel, Walker, Kaboul, Gallas, Assou-Ekotto, Livermore, Sandro (Kane 85), Lennon, Sigurdsson (Van der Vaart 68), Bale, Defoe. Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Vertonghen, Naughton, Jenas, Townsend.

Booked: Livermore, Sandro.

Goals: Defoe 76.

Att: 52,385

Ref: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).