Gary Speed scored with a thundering header 13 minutes from time to earn Newcastle a replay at St James' Park in the only all-Premiership FA Cup third round tie.
Tottenham dominated for much of the game and looked to have done enough when Steffen Iversen scored a superb goal early in the second half.
But Newcastle under Bobby Robson are a determined outfit and they launched a furious assault on the Spurs goal in the closing stages. Speed's equaliser was no less than they deserved, although neither side did enough to win a third round match that started slowly enough but developed into a scintillating tie.
Tottenham went into their biggest game of the season with a second-string midfield line-up, Ruel Fox and Allan Nielsen replacing the injured Oyvind Leonhardsen and suspended Tim Sherwood.
Newcastle were boosted by the return of England international Kieron Dyer, while Duncan Ferguson claimed a place up front. Despite the home side's depleted resources, Newcastle still adopted a defensive approach, content, it seemed, to score on the break or at least secure a replay at St James' Park.
Spurs have relied on David Ginola for virtually all their creative spark during their recent ragged run - and it was the Frenchman who had the first chance of the game, with a fizzing 25-yard shot that was athletically turned over the bar by Steve Harper.
Nielsen volleyed high and wide from 15 yards after former Magpies Ginola and Fox had linked well on the right. Then twice in the space of a minute Harper produced stunning saves to deny Spurs.
With 19 minutes gone he dived low to his left to grasp Nielsen's header from a Fox cross - and seconds later he palmed the ball away from Steffen Iversen as the Norwegian tried to take it around him.
Norwegian dream
Spurs continued to be the more adventurous side after the break - and they were rewarded for their efforts with a fantastic goal after 56 minutes.
There appeared little danger when Tottenham were awarded a throw on the right. But Ginola cushioned the ball on his chest, took a stride forward and delivered a brilliant curling cross into the area, where Iversen dived forward to head the ball into the far corner of Harper's net. The goal at last prompted Newcastle into a more expansive game-plan, and Kevin Gallacher was introduced up front.
The visitors struggled forward in search of an equaliser, but so bereft was their attacking play that it took 72 minutes for Alan Shearer to have an attempt on goal, his header sent straight at Walker.
Dyer then came close with a fierce angled drive that flashed wide of the target.
With Newcastle piling on the pressure, Spurs' suspect defence became increasingly indisciplined. It seemed almost inevitable that Newcastle would get the equaliser - and it arrived in the 77th minute, as Gary Speed rose totally unmarked at a corner to power a header past Walker.
Once they were level it was Newcastle who looked the more likely to win the tie on the day and Gallacher shot wide before another Speed header was diverted away by Steffen Freund.
But the best chance of all came in injury time when Pistone's low cross found Gallacher unmarked eight yards out, but his side-footed shot was saved by Walker.