Newcastle climbed into the Premier League top four after winning 2-1 at Tottenham with their manager, Eddie Howe, declaring “we can achieve special things with this group”. First-half goals from Callum Wilson and Miguel Almirón were enough to beat third-placed Spurs, who failed to mount a second-half comeback after Harry Kane’s 54th‑minute goal. “Hopefully this gives us the confidence to know we can go anywhere,” Howe said. “Physically, technically, tactically we performed at a very high level. I think we can beat anyone if we play like that.” Having drawn with Manchester City and Manchester United, and lost against Liverpool in August, their only defeat so far, this was Newcastle’s first win against a “Big Six” club this season. They will enter the World Cup break next month in contention for Champions League qualification. “It was a really good performance today, probably the best performance since I’ve been here,” said Howe, who succeeded Steve Bruce last November. “I thought we were really brave both in and out of possession.” Bruno Guimarães starred in midfield despite two sleepless nights after becoming a new father this week. Howe said of the Brazilian: “He was outstanding today. He’s given his heart and soul to the club and he’s an outstanding player.” Howe was keen to point out that Newcastle’s two goals were scored by players signed before the club’s Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund‑resourced takeover 12 months ago. “A lot of them were here anyway. Credit the players for the performance, don’t look at how the team was put together.” Tottenham’s defeat followed their midweek loss at Manchester United to loosen their own grip on a top‑four place and their manager, Antonio Conte, blamed a heavy schedule overworking his thin squad. “We have to try to keep the fingers crossed and don’t have injuries because we are not a team with such a depth of squad to face competitions like the Premier League and Champions League, but this is not something against the club,” the Italian said. “We need to go step by step and have time and patience and have two or three transfer markets to bring this squad to be competitive to play in two competitions like Premier League and Champions League.” A hot-tempered game threatened to boil over after Wilson’s opening goal was scored following a collision with Spurs’ goalkeeper, Hugo Lloris, and allowed to stand by VAR. Howe said: “If that’s two outfield players I don’t think the free-kick is given.”