Newcastle 0-2 Tottenham - PLAYER RATINGS: Mousa Dembele is a class act in midfield while Jonjo Shelvey has no excuse for act of petulance

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Tottenham returned to the scene of one of their most crushing Premier League defeats on Sunday and proved they had grown from the team that lost 5-1 two seasons ago.

Dele Alli and Ben Davies grabbed the goals, but who were the top performers? And who had a day to forget?

Sportsmail's CRAIG HOPE was at St James' Park to run the rule over every player and the referee as the match unfolded...

Jonjo Shelvey let Newcastle down after being sent off for an act of petulance

Newcastle United 

Rob Elliot 6.5 - Made a terrific instinctive save from Kane with the game goalless but was left exposed for Alli’s opener. Did nothing wrong.

Javier Manquillo 6 - A steady enough debut and looked better than he did during entirety of last season’s loan spell at Sunderland.

Ciaran Clark 6 - Shifted to left back after early injury to Dummett and did okay.

Florian Lejeune 6.5 - Will be a blow if his injury is serious, for he had kept Kane quiet for more than half an hour before a heavy challenge from the Spurs striker forced his withdrawal.

Paul Dummett 6 - Only lasted seven minutes before hamstring went.

Jonjo Shelvey 3 - Had a quiet first half and perhaps it was the frustration at having no impact on the game which led him to needlessly trod on Alli, leading to his dismissal early in the second half. It was stupid, he can have no excuse.

Shelvey has no excuse for getting sent off and had a quiet first half to boot

Isaac Hayden 6 - Worked diligently alongside Shelvey as Newcastle kept it tight until his midfield partner was sent off. Chasing shadows after that.

Matt Ritchie 5 - Worked hard but barely had a kick and was unable to impact like last season.

Ayoze Perez 5 - Played behind Gayle but did not link well with lone striker. He mis-placed one crucial pass which could have freed Gayle before half-time.

Christian Atsu 6 - Started very well and looked like his side’s chief threat only to fade.

Dwight Gayle 5.5 - Snatched at an early chance and that was a sign of things to come with the striker looking rusty after a hamstring layoff.

Dwight Gayle (left) looked rusty after a long layoff with a hamstring injury

Subs

Jamaal Lascelles 6 (on 7mins for Dummett) - Did not fare as well as Lejeune against Kane.

Chancel Mbemba 6 (on 34mins for Lejeune) - Did okay and he could now be set for a run in the side if injuries elsewhere are serious.

Mikel Merino 6 (on 76mins for Gayle) - Kept it tidy.

Tottenham

Hugo Lloris 6 - Did what he had to with minimum fuss.

Kyle Walker-Peters 7 - Settled any nerves with an early dribble and grew into the game after that. A very confident and steady display.

Toby Alderweireld 6.5 - It was a relatively easy afternoon up against what looked like a half-fit Gayle.

Mousa Dembele was class act, effortlessly knitting play from the middle of the park

Jan Vertonghen 6.5 - Much like his Belgian comrade Alderweireld, he strode through this one with little trouble.

Ben Davies 7 - Hadn’t offered a great deal in attack but appeared in right place at right time to force home the second goal. A couple of timely blocks at the other end as well.

Eric Dier 6.5 - Covered well when Walker-Peters bombed forward and put in a disciplined if unspectacular shift in the holding role.

Mousa Dembele 7.5 - A class act, as ever, effortlessly knitting play and dictating the tempo from the middle of the park. MOM.

Dele Alli picked up where he left off last season with a well-taken goal for Tottenham

Moussa Sissoko 5 - An unhappy return to St James’ Park. He was booed throughout and did nothing before his withdrawal on the hour.

Dele Alli 7 - His breakthrough goal was crucial and, although it was one of his quieter outings, he produced the goods when his side needed it.

Christian Eriksen 7 - A delightful cross for Alli’s goal and was a threat throughout, picking passes and bringing in those around him.

Harry Kane 6.5 - Unlucky not to score - once thwarted by Elliot and then by a post - but worked tirelessly and the goals will come.

Harry Kane was unlucky not to score as he was denied by Rob Elliot and then the post

Subs

Son Heung-Min 6 (on 58mins for Sissoko) A couple of purposeful bursts down the left.

Victor Wanyama (on 82mins for Alli)

Harry Winks (on 85mins for Dembele)

Referee

Andre Marriner 7 - He got the big call on Shelvey absolutely spot on.