Newcastle boss Alan Pardew hailed Demba Ba's first strike since February and issued a heartfelt apology for his own breach of post-Olympic spirit as the Magpies started the season with a 2-1 home win over Tottenham.
Ba's curling opener from the corner of the box in the 55th minute lit up a tough but low-key encounter and sparked the late drama in which Jermain Defoe bundled a 76th minute equaliser and Hatem Ben Arfa slotted a penalty winner four minutes later.
The excitement was too much for Pardew, who despite urging his players to keep their cool in his programme notes, lost his own when confronting the linesman over a touchline incident and was sent to the stands.
