NEWCASTLE United made a statement yesterday, but it was the stuff on the pitch rather than in the programme that had conspired to fire the imagination by a quarter to six last night.

To little fanfare, a five-page “mission statement” as dry as a dishcloth was featured in the club’s match-day magazine.

It was a fair account of off-the-field affairs from the pen of Derek Llambias, but in truth it didn’t say much – unlike Newcastle’s class of 2011, who are suddenly becoming a big noise in this Premier League season.

In a contest billed as their first major test of the campaign, Alan Pardew’s new Newcastle passed with flying colours.

Tottenham arrived at St James’ Park to pose plenty of attacking problems – but in a development that proves there is substance to this stirring start, United consistently managed to supply the answers.

Twice they went behind to sucker punches, yet twice they came roaring back into this thrilling game. It is a reaction to adversity against one of the very best sides in the country that should warm the cockles of any jittery United supporter still worried about whether a collapse might just be round the corner.

We all know the mitigation by now – injuries, suspensions and that tough November programme might yet see this start unravel and expose talk of a Europa League challenge.

But one thing is certain, this team will not surrender their unbeaten record without one hell of a fight. They are 11 without defeat now, and a quick glance at the fixture list confirms the rest of their October programme looks inviting. Heady days indeed.

Games like yesterday will only help the progression of this team. Pardew made the mistake of hailing this as a “win” in the post-match Press conference and, while he quickly corrected himself, snatching a point from a good Spurs side certainly felt like a victory after half-an-hour that ebbed and flowed.

The identity of the game-saver was something to cherish, too. Shola Ameobi is Marmite to the St James’ Park crowd – they either love him or hate him – but his superb leveller with four minutes left on the clock was proof of his enduring ability. That he had stepped off the bench to deliver it only strengthened Pardew’s point that the club has constructed a stronger squad over the last 12 months. Shorn of some of the star names, perhaps, but now with match winners on the sidelines ready to strike.