An injury-ravaged Newcastle put on a spectacular display to destroy George Graham's Tottenham and, in turn, book themselves a place in the fourth round of the FA Cup.
Magpies' boss Bobby Robson only had five defenders available to him, but his team showed a magnificent spirit and determination, qualities which have been evident since his arrival.
Goals from Gary Speed, Nikos Dabizas, Duncan Ferguson, substitute Kieron Dyer and two from Alan Shearer helped Newcastle achieve their second highest score of the season. The Magpies took the lead in the fifth minute when defender Warren Barton exposed the lack of marking on the Spurs right, to float in a cross into the visitors' penalty area.
Big Duncan Ferguson rose above centre-back Chris Perry, to nod the ball down into the path of the arriving Gary Speed, who made no mistake slotting his shot away from the despairing reach of goalkeeper Ian Walker.
Robson's men raised the tempo with some fluent passing in the midfield, the front three of Kevin Gallacher, Alan Shearer and Ferguson combining with some slick one-two's.
Tottenham looked to be coming back into the match, when Frenchman David Ginola, targeted by the Toon Army boo-boys, struck a shot just yards over Steve Harper's bar.
On 27 minutes, however, the Magpies increased their lead.
Newcastle won a corner and it was left in the capable hands of Peruvian Nolberto Solano, to send in the cross.
Greek defender Dabizas rose above Spurs' Ramon Vega to place the ball inside right-hand post.
Just as it looked as if the Geordies would run away with the match, up stepped the Gallic flair of Ginola. The Frenchman drifted past a couple of Newcastle defenders on the right and struck a shot taking a vicious deflection on its way past the grasp of Harper.
But a minute before half-time the Magpies restored their two-goal cushion with the help of another cross from the right by Barton.
This time 'keeper Walker fumbled the incoming ball into the path of Ferguson.
The Scot, who had a hand in the first goal, smashed the rebound off the underside of the Spurs bar and sent the Geordie fans into raptures.
The second-half started brightly for George Graham's side, with midfielder Allan Nielsen fractionally missing the killer touch needed to convert a cross from the right.
England international Kieron Dyer added fuel to the Newcastle fire when he came on to replace Gallacher.
His surge and run into the Spurs box provided Newcastle with a glorious chance to give the Magpies their fourth goal, but the pull- back was cleared away by young Stephen Clemence from two yards out.
But minutes later Dyer showed why he is rated as one of England's brightest talents.
A Newcastle clearance fell to the feet of captain Shearer and his layoff found the surging Dyer.
The former Ipswich star eased his way into the penalty area and passed the ball into Walker's left-hand corner.
The match was undoubtedly turning into a rout and Shearer quite clearly wanted a part of the fun.
First, substitute Ketsbaia flick the ball into the Spurs box, but Shearer's shirt was pulled back by Swiss Vega.
Referee Graham Poll pointed to the penalty spot and it was left to the captain to power the ball away from Walker to make the scoreline 5-1in the 82nd minute.
Shearer then capped off a great night for the Toon Army by heading in a pinpoint cross from Ketsbaia to give Bobby Robson the ideal Christmas present.
