Tottenham's fans pleaded with Harry Redknapp to snub England and stay at White Hart Lane as the Spurs boss masterminded a brutal 5-0 hammering of Newcastle.

Louis Saha scored his first two goals for the club and there were also strikes from Benoit Assou-Ekotto, Niko Kranjcar and Emmanuel Adebayor as Spurs moved within five points of the Barclays Premier League summit.

The performance was one of the team's best of the season and came amid a background of constant adulation from the home crowd towards their manager.

The 64-year-old started the week with the prospect of jail hanging over him, but by Wednesday afternoon he found himself in the clear and in pole position to take over as England's head coach following Fabio Capello's shock resignation.

Chants of 'You're Spurs, and you know you are' greeted Redknapp as he made an emotional return to the dugout.

And on several occasions We want you to stay' rang out as the home support made it clear that they did not want to lose their boss, who has transformed the club from relegation candidates to title chasers within just over three years.

Redknapp acknowledged the chants with a warm smile and wave, but it remains to be seen whether their pleas will be enough to make their boss stay.

The reality is surely that he is extremely interested in taking Capello's place and, on this evidence, it is easy to see why he is the overwhelming favourite.

Redknapp's men started in devastating fashion and were two up after just six minutes - Assou-Ekotto and Saha with his first for the club.

Saha's second and Kranjcar made it four-nil at the break before Adebayor got in on the act in the second half.