Newcastle v Tottenham: Key stats and talking points

Newcastle go in search of a third consecutive league win against a Tottenham side beaten in each of their past three games in all competitions. BBC Sport examines some of the key themes before Tuesday's match.

Magpies defender Malick Thiaw took just 52 seconds to open the scoring at Everton on Saturday and they capitalised on that fast start by winning 4-1, with Thiaw on target twice in the club's biggest league victory of the season.

The next step, according to head coach Eddie Howe, is finding "the consistency we're searching for". Wins against Manchester City and Everton have come either side of a European defeat in Marseille and Howe admits striking the "sweet spot" between the demands of the Premier League and Champions League has proved a challenge.

What has proved less of a challenge, at least in recent years, has been beating Tottenham Hotspur.

Newcastle have won six of the past seven encounters in all competitions, including a 2-0 victory at St James' Park when the sides met in the EFL Cup in October.

Howe also has a formidable personal record against Thomas Frank, winning six of eight Premier League meetings whilst his opposite number was Brentford boss.

While Newcastle made a flying start at the weekend, Tottenham failed to recover from a disastrous opening six minutes against Fulham in which they conceded twice, eventually being booed off after a 2-1 home defeat.

Frank says supporters are entitled to vent their feelings after the final whistle but believes it is "completely unacceptable" that some booed goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario immediately after his error for the second goal, adding they "can't be true Tottenham fans".

Criticism of match-going supporters, whether valid or not, can be a slippery slope for Premier League managers and an improved performance is needed to stop the pressure building on Frank.

A trip away from London might help. Spurs were soundly beaten in three derby matches last month yet remain unbeaten in Premier League games outside the capital this season, collecting 10 points from a possible 12.

More attacking threat would also boost Frank's popularity. Tottenham's tally of 124 shots is the third lowest in the top flight this season, and equivalent to 9.5 per game. They have never ended a full Premier League campaign with fewer than 11 shots per match.