NEWCASTLE (England), Dec 21: Newcastle United manager Joe Kinnear, who has been linked with an unlikely move to Sunderland, led his team to a 2-1 home victory over Tottenham Hotspur here on Sunday.

The Magpies’ boss stretched his unbeaten run to six games with the thrilling last-gasp win at St James’s Park.

Newcastle midfielder Charles N’Zogbia opened the scoring in the 12th minute of a frantic first half but Spurs’ Luka Modric scored his second goal in as many games to level 16 minutes before half-time.

And just as it appeared as if the fixture was going to end in a stalemate, United substitutes Damien Duff and Mark Viduka combined in the 90th minute with the former sealing a famous win for the home team.

Newcastle went into the clash with five successive league victories to their name against Tottenham. However, the Nigerian international forward, Obafemi Martins, was missing from the United line-up with a groin injury after scoring against Spurs in four of those wins.

Shola Ameobi, the former England Under 21 international, replaced Martins in attack alongside leading scorer Michael Owen - an obvious target for a number of clubs in England and across Europe ahead of next month’s transfer window.

In another match on Sunday, West Bromwich Albion won for the first time in three months when Czech striker Roman Bednar headed in an extra-time goal to see off fellow strugglers Manchester City 2-1.

The win gives The Baggies hope they can stay in the Premier League while it piles the pressure on City manager Mark Hughes who has seen his expensively assembled side slump into the relegation zone.

West Brom manager Tony Mowbray made two changes from the side beaten 4-0 at Sunderland with Bednar and South Korean midfielder Kim Do-Heon called up to the starting lineup.

Hughes also made two switches from the side that lost at home to Everton with Darius Vassell and Gelson Fernandes in for the injured Robinho and playmaker Borja Valero.

There were early opportunities for both teams in a lively start to the game but poor finishing kept the goalsheet clean.

Best chance for West Bromwich went to Bednar after 30 minutes but his shot hit the post and then the head of diving goalkeeper Joe Hart before being cleared.

City should have scored in the final seconds of the half but central defender Micah Richards blasted over from close range with the home defence at sixes and sevens following a free-kick from the right headed on by Benjani Mwaruwari.

The visitors went close again eight minutes into the second half with Shaun Wright-Phillips hammering in a right footer from 20 yards out that Hart gathered in at the second attempt.

The lively Benjani pulled up with a leg injury shortly after and Bednar had a chance for West Brom but weakly shot past from inside the box with the City defence caught napping.

Mowbray brought on talented Scottish youngster Graham Dorrans for his first-team debut after 64 minutes and four minutes later The Baggies were ahead.

Midfielder Robert Koren was the architect sliding a perfectly judged ball through the centre of the City defence for Luke Moore who coolly kept his composure to stroke a right-footer under the advancing Hart.

West Brom had a couple of chances to put the game away but seven minutes from time City were back on level terms with a clever goal from Ecuador international striker Felipe Caicedo.

He found himself in possession of the ball eight yards out but with his back to the goal after a long throw-in from the left. His back-heeler took the home defence by suprise and a slight deflection helped squeeze it in at the far post.

A share of the points looked on the cards but Bednar grabbed the winner two minutes into added time when he headed in a speculative cross from Abdoulaye Meite after losing his marker Richards.

On Saturday, Aston Villa took full advantage of the absence of the other Premier League high-fliers, winning 1-0 at West Ham United to climb to third.

A deflected James Milner shot 12 minutes from time gave Villa 34 points from 18 games and pushed them above Manchester United (32).

Earlier, Sam Allardyce got off to a flying start as manager of Blackburn Rovers when his new club beat Stoke City 3-0 to claim only their second home victory of the season.

Bolton Wanderers scored twice in the first three minutes en route to a 2-1 home win over Portsmouth while Fulham beat Middlesbrough 3-0.

Sunderland hit four for the second successive game and climbed out of the relegation zone when they triumphed 4-1 at Hull City.

In the evening game at Upton Park, Villa had the best of the first half but were on the defensive for most of the second as the hosts wasted several good chances.

The game seemed to be heading for a draw until Milner’s speculative cross-shot hit West Ham defender Lucas Neill and looped over keeper Robert Green.

The own goal secured Villa’s sixth away win of the season and condemned West Ham to their fifth home defeat.

Results:

Played on Sunday:

Newcastle 2 Tottenham Hotspurs 1

West Bromwich Albion 2 Manchester City 1

Played on Saturday:

Blackburn 3 Stoke 0

Bolton 2 Portsmouth 1

Fulham 3 Middlesbrough 0

Hull 1 Sunderland 4

West Ham 0 Aston Villa 1.

—Agencies