Tottenham Hotspur let a first half lead slip against Newcastle United as they lost their third home game of the season.

An Emmanuel Adebayor header after 17 minutes opened the scoring for the home side with Newcastle sub Sammy Ameobi equalising after just eight seconds of the second half.

Ayoze Perez’s header gave the visitors an unlikely lead just before the hour mark and his first Newcastle goal was enough to give Alan Pardew’s team all three points for the first time on the road.

The game started with a minute’s applause for Spurs legend Bill Nicholson who died ten years ago this week.

Chances were limited during the open exchanges with both sides resorting to long shots and the home team dominating possession.

It was Spurs who looked the more threatening and indeed they took the lead after 17 minutes.

Christian Eriksen found Ryan Mason after Nacer Chadli’s close range shot was blocked and the young midfielder was able to stand up a fine ball to the back post where Adebayor gobbled up the opportunity to score his first league goal since August.

The away side created very little in the first half but when a whipped cross from Moussa Sissoko was punched by Hugo Lloris into the path of Jack Colback, the midfielder could only scuff his shot wide.

A looping free-kick from Eriksen found Chadli in acres of space in the penalty box but the Belgian got his volley all wrong and sent the ball into orbit.

If Newcastle had problems breaking down Spurs in the first half it took them just eight seconds to find a way through in the second half.

The away side made two subs and it was Ameobi who caught out Eric Dier off guard with his pace as a long ball by Colback found the striker who slotted beyond Lloris.

Spurs nearly took the lead seven minutes later after good play from Etienne Capoue and Danny Rose found Eriksen in the box but the Dane’s shot was well blocked by Fabricio Coloccini.

It was Newcastle’s other half time substitute who had a hand in the away side’s second goal just before the hour.

Sissoko’s midfield burst created space for Remy Cabella on the left wing where he crossed for the leaping Perez to head the ball home.

Cabella was really making a difference to the tempo of the game and he nearly made it 3-1 with a jinking run into the box and attempted to poke his shot past Lloris at the near post.

Spurs nearly found a way through in the 90th minute when Kane’s fizzed-in cross went untouched along the six yard box.

Spurs had control in the first half and rarely looked phased by a toothless Newcastle yet the second half was an entirely different story with the equaliser turning Pochettino’s side and the stadium into a bag of nerves.

The Tottenham boss cut a frustrated figure as his team lacked any urgency going forward.

The lillywhites will have to pick themselves up for a Capital One Cup match in three days against Brighton and Hove Albion.