Tottenham leapfrogged Manchester City into second place thanks to Heung-Min Son’s late goal in a 1-0 win over Newcastle.
Erik Lamela and Salomon Rondon hit the crossbar on either side of half-time, while Lucas Moura, Moussa Sissoko and Ayoze Perez went close to breaking the deadlock.
But Son’s 83rd-minute strike found its way past Martin Dubravka, who should have done better.
The shot went under the Slovakian’s body when it should have been a routine save.
Spurs were not complaining as it brought reward for their endeavour when it looked like they were going to be frustrated and maintained their strong position in the title race.
They are now above Manchester City and four points behind leaders Liverpool, with both teams not in action until Sunday and Monday respectively.
Newcastle put up a good showing, and saw Rondon hit a post with a header, but could not pull further clear of the relegation zone.
Spurs had also made hard work of league victories over Fulham and Watford, again winning with goals in the last 10 minutes, so were keen to get on the front foot.
They had the perfect chance to gain the early advantage, but Moura produced a shocking miss in the 16th minute.
He was left in acres of space by a failed Newcastle offside trap and was found perfectly by Lamela’s cross, but the Brazilian planted a free header from seven yards out wide of the target.
The hosts continued to press and came within inches of taking the lead eight minutes later as Lamela met Jan Vertonghen’s cross, but his header crashed into the upright.
The pattern of Spurs attack versus Newcastle defence was set in and Moussa Sissoko tested Dubravka with a low shot, with Davinson Sanchez being muscled off the ball from the rebound with the goal gaping.
When Newcastle did venture forward they were presented with good opportunities and they almost took the lead early in the second half.
Rondon found space and met DeAndre Yedlin’s cross but his header hit the same upright that Lamela found while Hugo Lloris was also forced into a good diving save from Ayoze Perez.
Either side of those two chances, though, Newcastle were reliant on a brilliant piece of defending from Fabian Schar to keep his side level. Christian Eriksen diverted a corner goalwards with a cute flick, but Schar acrobatically cleared off the line with millimetres to spare.
It looked like it was not going to be Tottenham’s day as Fernando Llorente sent a free header over the bar, but Mauricio Pochettino’s men have the habit of rescuing themselves late on this season and again pulled it out of the bag.
Llorente laid the ball off to Son, who was delighted to see his low shot squirm under Dubravka’s body for his 10th Premier League goal of the season.