Welcome to the final game of the day, where Tottenham can really strengthen their hold on third place. Of course, that now seems a fait accompli, as does the their manager Harry Redknapp eventually taking England job… at least for Euro 2012 anyway. In that context, will Tottenham get the same lift from Redknapp’s trial verdict this week as the manager did himself? Or can Newcastle maintain their form… as well as their own outside chance of fourth?

Rafael van der Vaart in the directors’ box wearing a hat shaped like a birthday cake with candles because he is, after all, 29 today. And injured. He looks ludicrous in that.

Newcastle can go ahead of Arsenal and Chelsea if they win this… and that’d be with all teams having played 25 games.

The teams:

Tottenham: Friedel, Walker, Dawson, King, Assou-Ekotto, Modric, Parker, Kranjcar, Bale, Adebayor, Saha

Newcastle: Krul, Coloccini, Perch, Williamson, Simpson, Santon, Gutierrez, Obertan, Guthrie, Cisse, Ba

We’re off…

GOAL! Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Newcastle United

And what a start by Spurs! Emmanuel Adebayor plays a one-two with Gareth Bale before sliding the ball across for Benoit Assou-Ekotto to slam into the net. Gabriel Obertan went to sleep to allow it.

GOAL! Tottenham 2-0 Newcastle United

And it gets better! Adebayor crosses for Luis Saha to finish superbly and score on his home debut. Brilliant!

Adebayor running riot at the moment, ensuring Spurs do too.

Of course, the one downside of all this is that yet again the late game is, at the moment, a non-contest.

Tottenham fans singing “Harry Redknapp, we want you to stay.”

Newcastle being torn ragged here. Can’t even put a few passes together.

GOAL! Tottenham Hotspur 3-0 Newcastle United

And this is just getting ridiculous. Adebayor with another assist, Saha with anothe r goal. The former tees it up for the latter to finish emphatically from close in.

Tottenham in complete control here. Just rolling the ball around the pitch.

GOAL! Tottenham Hotspur 4-0 Newcastle United

Tottenham’s fourth goal and Adebayor’s fourth assist as his initial shot is saved before he allows Niko Kranjcar to roll the ball in.

Hello, Paul here. I’ll be taking you through until half time, while Miguel takes a short break.

Ba strikes a tame shot into Friedel’s hands. Tottenham appear to be coasting at the moment.

Kranjcar crosses to Saha, who shoots wide – somehow I doubt that’ll be his last chance to score a hat-trick today.

Strangely, given the home side’s overwhelming lead, White Hart Lane sounds fairly quiet at the moment.

Scott Parker is fouled right on the edge of the box. More danger for Newcastle.

Unfortunately for Spurs, Assou-Ekotto blazes the free kick well over.

HALF TIME: SPURS 4-0 NEWCASTLE

Surely that’s game over. Though as many people point out, Newcastle did come back from four goals down against Arsenal last year.

And this procession at the lane is about to kick off again…

Hard to think of a game this season where Newcastle have looked so lifelessgoing forward. And, of course, credit to Tottenham for making it so.

This performance also brings up a deeper question about Adebayor. When he’s on form, he can be superb. But too often his interest seems to drift. Compare this to his performance on Monday against Liverpool. Miserable. On that grounds, has he had the career he should have?

The newly-knighted Trevor McDonald is here. Yes, that’s what we’re reduced to: commenting on notable attendees. Well, Trevor, the news is that this is a non-event by this stage. Spurs just spraying it around with no intent or energy. And why shouldn’t they?They’ve won the game.

GOAL! Tottenham Hotspur 5-0 Newcastle United

And Emmanuel Adebayor gets the goal he deserves, with Benoit Essou-Akotto and Luis Saha returning the favour. The full-back crosses for the striker to head down, and Adebayor turns and smashes home.

Saha goes off for Defoe. He’s had a fine home debut. Meanwhile, Dan Gosling comes on for Cisse for Newcastle.

Ryan Nelsen comes on for Ledley King to make his debut for Spurs. Shouldn’t have much to do.

Rare action at the Tottenham end! Great reaction save by Brad Friedel to keep out Demba Ba’s point-blank header before Danny Guthrie blazes the rebound over.

Adebayor then goes close with a turn and shot.

If you were Redknapp and it came to a straight choice, would you take your dream job or try and take Spurs to a title?

“And Harry Redknapp gets his second unanimous verdict of the week.” John Champions was waiting 90 minutes to say that. Full-time but, in truth, this gamewas over by the sixth minute.

Tottenham still in the title race but, at this point, surely have third.

Newcastle, by contrast, miss out on the chance to go fourth. But the scale of the defeat renders that statement a massive exaggeration.

Emmanuel Adebayor was supreme and, if anything, gives Redknapp cause for thought that the grass isn’t always greener…