How about a bit of plum Duff for Christmas? There has been precious little peace, and goodwill has largely been absent, but Newcastle United finally got into the spirit of things yesterday courtesy of an assured late winner from Damien Duff.

The Ireland winger’s career on Tyneside has been beset by injury, although before his latest ailment — a groin problem — his form had lifted markedly. In terms of drama, however, this was a new and welcome development, with Duff scoring a fine goal in the final minute, within two minutes of his introduction as a substitute. He flung himself into the crowd, earning a booking.

Whether Newcastle merited a fourth victory in 12 matches under Joe Kinnear, only two of which have brought defeat, was debatable, although there was no doubting the ferocity of the celebrations it prompted. The future may be uncertain at a club that are up for sale and have an absentee owner, but here was a rare cause of raucous, unrestricted joy.

Tottenham Hotspur were unfortunate. They responded to Charles N’Zogbia’s opener through Luka Modric — coveted by Kevin Keegan, Kinnear’s predecessor — whose 29th-minute equaliser was his second goal in four days, but his first in the Barclays Premier League, then carried the game to Newcastle. At half-time, Harry Redknapp, the Tottenham manager, told his players: “I wouldn’t take a point here today. It’s three points for us.”

Instead it was none. Redknapp’s third defeat since his appointment left Tottenham sixteenth in the table, only one point above the bottom three. As with their opponents, they will be defined by the health of their squad and they were missing Jonathan Woodgate, Jermaine Jenas and Darren Bent. Newcastle lost Shola Ameobi to a strained hamstring, but Obafemi Martins should return to face Wigan Athletic on Boxing Day.

Kinnear, who spent a decade at White Hart Lane as a player, had talked up his sweet-passing Tottenham credentials before the fixture, but Newcastle’s first goal was far more reminiscent of a different London club. Shay Given’s punt forward was pure Wimbledon in its conception, and difficult to defend. When Benoît Assou-Ekotto failed to control the ball, N’Zogbia surged forward, shrugged off the full back, pivoted and shot with his unfavoured right foot.

Until that point, Tottenham had been the more accomplished side, with Aaron Lennon, who had overcome a bout of illness, fizzing the ball across the face of goal and Michael Dawson drawing a save from Given after meeting David Bentley’s corner with his head. Pace on the counter- attack was the dominant weapon deployed by both teams, making for a feisty, breathless confrontation.

With N’Zogbia a pivotal figure on the left wing, Tottenham sat back to consider the gravity of his twelfth-minute goal, although they were to equalise in similar fashion. As Ameobi was about to be replaced by Mark Viduka, the striker was caught dallying in possession by Dawson, whose booted clearance was suddenly transformed into an exquisite pass.

Although Roman Pavlyuchenko was clearly offside in a central position, Modric was level with the reliably unreliable José Enrique — a new left back remains a priority for Kinnear, as it had been for Keegan, during next month’s transfer window — and, having delayed his run until the moment of delivery, was left with only Given to negotiate. His finish was strong.

The same could not be said of Michael Owen, who proved a good deal less threatening in the second half. In the face of growing dominance from the visiting team, Newcastle broke and N’Zogbia’s cross was touched backwards by Viduka, but from nine yards, Owen cleared the crossbar with some distance to spare.

Tottenham kept pressing, Fraizer Campbell launching himself at Lennon’s delivery and only narrowly failing to connect, and Newcastle appeared certain to draw a third home match in succession in which they had led. Then came Duff, then came a through-ball from N’Zogbia, controlled by the Irishman, fed on to Viduka and returned. Then came rapture.