The Magpies looked to have gained all three points when Anthony Gordon converted a late penalty in a dramatic finale in which Bruno Guimarães' fourth home goal of the campaign had been cancelled out by Spurs skipper Romero.

But Romero had other ideas and his spectacular stoppage time effort meant United had to settle for a share of the spoils at St. James' Park.

The frenetic last few minutes were a far cry from what had gone before, with only a handful of genuine openings for either side.

In the fourth minute, Lewis Hall won possession and skilfully advanced towards the box before sending a low shot inches wide then, seconds later, Jacob Murphy crossed from the right and Nick Woltemade rose highest but couldn't direct his header on target.

Hall made a vital interception from a dangerous Brennan Johnson cross before Lewis Miley tested Guglielmo Vicario after strong work from Harvey Barnes to win the ball from Lucas Bergvall before cutting back for the teenage midfielder, who had scored from similar range at Everton three days earlier.

Just after the half-hour mark, a speculative cross-shot from Murphy drifted the wrong side of the far post, then Joelinton hit the woodwork from a narrow angle.

But Spurs almost took the lead against the run of play when Bergvall's audacious flick from a drilled Mohammed Kudus centre zipped just over the bar at the Gallowgate End.

Guimarães replaced Sandro Tonali at half time and shortly after the restart, Barnes was denied by Vicario after a brilliant burst from the winger, before Woltemade's follow-up was headed off the line by Kevin Danso.

Then it was Johnson's turn to make a last-gasp clearance, preventing Tino Livramento's 20-yard volley from hitting the back of the net with Vicario beaten.

However, there was no stopping Guimarães in the 71st minute. Fellow sub Gordon - who had only just entered the fray - was positive and direct on the left, finding Woltemade in the box, and the German laid the ball off for the United captain to finish first time and break the deadlock.

Vicario did well to parry a low shot from Miley soon afterwards, but in the 78th minute Romero equalised, stooping to head a Kudus cross beyond Aaron Ramsdale.

United quickly regained the lead when, after a VAR intervention from Paul Tierney, referee Tom Bramall was sent to the monitor and pointed to the spot, with Rodrigo Bentacur adjudged to have held Dan Burn in the box. With just four minutes of normal time remaining, Gordon made no mistake from 12 yards.

There were nine minutes added on, though, and that was enough time for Romero to strike for a second time, this time with an overhead kick, with Spurs' second effort on target.