Tottenham Hotspur hammered Newcastle United 4-0 at St James' Park this evening.
Emmanuel Adebayor scored a brace and Paulinho and Nacer Chadli added their names to scoresheet as Spurs ruthlessly put the Magpies to the sword.
See how the action unfolded below.
Well, that's all from me. I hope you have enjoyed the live commentary. Until next time, bye for now.
As for Spurs, their push for the Champions League marches on. They won't be favourites, but they are certainly up there.
It's pretty disastrous for Newcastle at the minute. Three straight defeats by margins of 3-0, 3-0, 4-0. It's looking pretty grim, but they won't be dragged into the relegation fight.
So there you have it, perhaps the result flattered Spurs somewhat, but that was a lesson in how to take your chances. It what separates teams in the Premier League.
CHANCE! Should be 5-0. Townsend is denied by Krul with about three Spurs players lining up to score.
Dreadful from Cisse. He gets it wide from Sissoko, waits for support tries to play it to the overlapping runner and it's a pass out of play.
It's Chadli's first goal for Spurs and what an effort, he curls it far post from the edge of the box. Krul had no chance.
Maybe I'm being harsh, but all three goals have come via Krul's saves, where were the defenders for all the goals? Could Krul have done better? perhaps on the second and third, yes.
The scoreline is harsh on Newcastle, but that has been their issue throughout this game. Not enough quality up top. Spurs haven't been great, but they'll walk away with what looks like a convincing win here.
Well it'll be a fourth straight home defeat and a third straight 3-0 loss for Newcastle here. Townsend's shot is parried out by Krul and Adebayor couldn't quite connect with it, but it is enough for it to bounce into the far corner.
Gouffran does well to jink his way into the Spurs box, but he over-does it and runs into trouble. Bentaleb goes up the other end and smashes one over the bar.
CHANCE! Another instinctive stop from Lloris denies Cisse. They have to keep this up Newcastle. Plenty of crosses could yield something. Cisse drifts offside to the annoyance of the home crowd.
Well if Newcastle are to get anything from this, they'll have to act fast. It hasn't looked likely really.
CHANCE! Stunning stop from Lloris as Debuchy powers a header at goal. This is far better from Newcastle last few minutes.
Well, exasperation for both fans, Ben Arfa loses it for Newcastle before Townsend goes up the other end and does the same. Gouffran hammers in an effort from an inside left position. Good save by Lloris.
Paul Dummett with a fierce drive across goal and Lloris manages to get a finger-tip save to it. No corner though. Better from Newcastle. Here comes Sylvain Marveaux on for Sammy Ameobi.
Again, it's just that final bit of quality in the last third. Ameobi goes down the left, works some space for a cross but then finds it blocked by the first man. Spurs not looking overly stretched at the minute, it must be said.
CHANCE! Not quite sure who it was in all honesty, but it was a powerful header goalwards from the corner and it struck a Spurs defender. It looked goal-bound.
Too eager and obvious from Newcastle. Adebayor gifts possession to Cisse and the striker turns and plays a hurried one-two with Ameobi. Spurs deal with it easily.
Bentaleb swipes out at Debuchy, a tad late from the midfielder, but no card is shown. Hatem Ben Arfa is getting ready to come on.
Not too sure what the issue is, but he's up on his feet. Looks like he'll be fine. The Magic Sponge works its wizardry again.
Good run down the left by Gouffran wins a corner for his side...Williamson gets up and it's a good header but Spurs get rid of it eventually.
Spurs are in the groove now. Bentaleb feeds Adebayor, who in turn gives it to Dembele who jinks inside and shoots and gets a corner. Newcastle get it clear.
Paulinho tees up Adebayor on the edge of the box and the Brazilian follows in his teammate's shot as Krul can only save into his path again. It's a second tap-in for Spurs. Big goal in this game.
Gouffran again frustrates as Ameobi comes inside and finds him, but the winger's pass is too short for Cisse. He's been poor Gouffran.
Bentaleb is currently down injured...he's up now. and Newcastle come forward with the ball and Sissoko's low cross gets caught between Vertonghen's legs and squirms through to Lloris.
If it stays like this, it will be Spurs' first win at Newcastle since Timothy Atouba scored the winning goal 10 years ago.
Back to this game, and Newcastle may feel as though they can grab an equaliser this half. Equally Spurs will be confident of extending their advantage. Next goal is crucial.
Just touching back to the games that have been postponed, Manuel Pellegrini may view that as a blessing disguise. His side are injury hit and play Chelsea and Barcelona in their next two games. FA Cup and Champions Leage duty respectively.
Of course the big news of the evening so far has been the postponement of Manchester City and Sunderland and Crystal Palace's visit to Everton also.
UPDATE: Stoke City are leading Swansea 1-0, while Fulham are beating Liverpool by the same scoreline in the evening's 8pm kick off. Manchester United are goalless with Arsenal.
Let's just move away from this game for just a minute as we get an update of this evening's other games...
Well, it's the visitors who are edging and perhaps deservedly so. Both teams are having a real go, but the Magpies look short up top.
Santon fires through a ruck of bodies, but the effort is too close and tame as Lloris gathers comofortably.
Kaboul cuts out Cisse's attempted chase onto the through ball from Sissoko. The Spurs defender has been excellent this evening.
Lovely interchange between Adebayor and Lennon and the ball comes to Bentaleb who threatens to shoot but Paulinho is in his way as he shapes. He won't be happy there the youngster.
A long ball in behind nearly catches Debuchy out, but the French full-back was alert and he sweeps up the danger. Ameobi has been Newcastle's best player this evening. Moussa Sissoko links up with De Jong and he fires a shot over on the edge of the box.
Wasted by Gouffran as he breaks from deep. He has time, space and men in the middle. He finds none of them, but wins a corner.
Newcastle don't really look like scoring here, they have given it a go, but they look short on quality up front.
Ameobi with another jinking run frees up Gouffran but the Frenchman's cross is too long and Spurs get men back to clear.
Naughton shoots from all of 30 yards as the corner comes out to him, but it doesn't trouble the goal. Terrible effort.
CHANCE! Aaron Lennon wide left comes inside on his right and delivers a low shot which hits the base of the post and bounces out. Good save by Krul actually, it's a corner.
Sammy Ameobi is gven the chance to sprint down the line and his race with Walker is like an Olympic 100m. The winger dips inside and tries to feed Cisse, but Kaboul cuts it out.
CHANCE! Ameobi clips in Cisse over the top and the striker looks like a man bereft of confidence as he lamely tries to lift it over Lloris on the edge of the box
Sammy Ameobi fancies a run at Kaboul and it opens up for the tricky Amoebi, but Kaboul does really well to make a block as the shot comes in. Solid defending.
Bentaleb does really well to hold off Moussa Sissoko and his low cross is turned into the Togo striker's path for a tap-in. Goal number eight of the season for him.
Santon is not having his finest game this evening. He's jusyt lost possession again and Adebayor's first touch is a poor one as he tries to lay on Lennon and/or Paulinho. Paulinho is supporting Adebayor up front, although expect Dembele to do the same when he can too.
Luuk de Jong has peeled off to isolate Kyle Walker a couple of times now, and that could be dangerous for the visitors. The striker has the beating of the full-back in the air.
Walker's free kick is sent straight Jan Vertonghen and the Belgium international climbs well, but he can't get it on target.
The game has calmed down a tad since the early openings. Lloris beats away a corner, but it's not convincing, Newcastle still have it in the final third with Sissoko and Gouffran, but eventually the visitors get rid of it and Adebayor is on the ball.
CHANCE! Well, Cisse should have scored. Ball up to the far post and De Jong outjumps Walker and Cisse can't turn it home. Should be 1-0 to the home side. This game has started really brightly.
Adebayor tries to link up with Paulinho, but the Brazilian midfielder's return pass is just overhit. It's the visitors who are on the up here.
CHANCE! Santon caught napping on the ball, Kaboul nips it and pulls it back to Paulinho and his fierce effort is beaten away by Krul. Spurs have started really well.
We've had one or two technical problems this evening, I'm afraid. But we're four minutes in and Spurs have had the best chance with Adebayor. Dembele pulled it back on the byline and a deflection took it wide.
I'm really looking forward to this one this evening. I fancy Spurs to edge it, but if Newcastle show up in front of their home fans, they could take some stopping.
"I haven't picked Manchester United out because of David, who is a big pal of mine and handling that situation very well. It's because they happen to be the team directly in front of us. But of course it would be quite a scalp to finish above them. People are saying we have no incentive [for the rest of the season] but they are insulting our professionalism. I don't like that. As manager of Newcastle United, it irritates me. There's always an incentive in football."
Pardew also claimed that he was targeting leapfrogging Manchester United in the Premier League.
"Manchester United's result cheered me up," he told reporters. "It gives us a chance to try and catch them and, if we finish above Manchester United that would be a hell of an achievement for this club, regardless of anything else. That's the immediate incentive for us and then we'll see where that takes us.
"Manchester United's result cheered me up," he told reporters. "It gives us a chance to try and catch them and, if we finish above Manchester United that would be a hell of an achievement for this club, regardless of anything else. That's the immediate incentive for us and then we'll see where that takes us.
"He needs to have a big second half of the season for the summer," Pardew is quoted as saying by Sky Sports News.
"We are going to have to make a decision with Papiss: whether he is going to stay at this club and be a big player for us like he was two years ago and last year to a degree, or whether it's going to be pastures new."
Pardew issued some interesting quotes about Papiss Cisse in the run up to this game. He seemingly issued the striker with an ultimatum after watching him score just three times this season.
Newcastle beat Spurs earlier in the season thanks to Loic Remy's goal, while they drew with Liverpool and beat Chelsea at home. They also triumphed over Manchester United at Old Trafford. Pardew's side have that capability if they show up. Tonight's game should be an intriguing one.
Turning our attentions to Newcastle for a moment, and despite their recent run of results, they have generally stepped it up when playing teams at the higher end of the table. A lot of fans have been dismayed by the lack of incoming transfer activity despite the money pocketing from selling Yohan Cabaye, although it must be said, plenty of the Toon Army will be glad to see the back of Joe Kinnear.
"We are all big fans of him when we see him in training, it is difficult to adjust to a different style of play and a different language, I'm sure Erik will pick it up and by the time he's fit he will be fluent."
"It is difficult to adapt to a different country, a different league and a different language but when you are suffering these niggles - and it's something more than minor at the moment - it is disappointing for the lad.
"We signed him for the long-term and we are sure that in the end he will come good for Tottenham and be a crowd favourite here," Sherwood told reporters.
One man who isn't featuring tonight is Erik Lamela, and the £30m signing from Roma has been ruled out for six weeks with a back injury. He has struggled to adapt since his club-record move, but Sherwood has said that Lamela is here for the "long term".
Everton's game with Crystal Palace has fallen foul of the weather now too. According to various reports, the wind has affected building works and fears for fan safety has been taken into account. Tonight's highlights show is going to be a lot shorter than advertised! Two games off now.
He also made light of the difficult conditions that tonight's game will be played in. "We enjoy playing in the sun more," he added. "But every player is in the same conditions. It'll be a tough game and we'll be ready for it."
He said: "It's very important, we want to keep the run going and it's very difficult away game. We're in good form and we're getting better and better. Of course you need to get a good result to keep Liverpool close to you and all the other teams [above]. If we can get three points here, it is a bonus."
He didn't feature under AVB, but the former Arsenal man has scored six goals since Sherwood was employed back in December.
One player who has definitely been rejuvenated under Sherwood is Emmanuel Adebayor, and the Togo striker has been a revelation since he was brought in from the cold from his boss.
So there we have it, Pardew has entrusted Luuk de Jong alongside Papiss Cisse, while Sherwood continues with lone front man in Emmanuel Adebayor.
Spurs: Lloris; Walker, Kaboul, Vertonghen, Naughton; Dembele, Bentaleb, Capoue, Paulinho, Lennon; Adebayor.
Newcastle: Krul; Debuchy, Williamson, S.Taylor, Santon; Gouffran, Sissoko, Anita, Sammy Ameobi; De Jong, Cisse
It's interesting to see Spurs develop under Sherwood, results have improved since Andre Villas-Boas was sacked, and a lot of the players seem a lot more relaxed under the former midfielder. Perhaps that is harsh on AVB, but the team do appear to be receptive to Sherwood's ideas, and from the outside looking in, the tactics and approach appear to be less complicated than they were under the Portuguese.
Right, back to this game; Spurs haven't beaten Newcastle at St James' Park for 10 years. Tonight represents as good a time as any. Newcastle aren't enjoying their best form of the season, and as mentioned, have lost both of their last two games 3-0.
Before we begin to discuss this evening's game, we just have to bring you an update that Manchester City's clash with Sunderland has been called off due to this evening's bad weather. More on that on the Sports Mole homepage of course.
Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of Newcastle United's clash with Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.
