Spurs ended a game with 10 men for the second time in a row after Kaboul saw red for a second-half clash with Newcastle midfielder Cheik Tiote.

After being tackled perfectly legally by Tiote, Kaboul squared up head to head with his opponent and referee Anthony Taylor deemed the offence worthy of a straight red card. When Kaboul was dismissed there were still 25 minutes on the clock and Spurs led the game thanks to Aaron Lennon's opener.

Kaboul, who had picked up a booking 10 minutes earlier for a foul on Joey Barton, protested his innocence after the match.

But Redknapp, who saw Jermain Defoe sent off against Aston Villa two days ago, took a different view and criticised his centre-half for the dismissal which will rule him out of Spurs' next three games.

"We shouldn't have gone down to 10. It was stupid," said Redknapp.

"It's a lack of discipline. He has got to learn. You are 1-0 up so why do you have to get involved in something like that?

"It's absolute nonsense and he has to learn.

"He is a young boy and has been fantastic for us this year.

"He has been everything I always thought he would be. Now he has become a top-class centre-half but he has gone and got himself suspended for three games."

The sending-off took the gloss off a hard-fought victory which was sealed by Gareth Bale's 10th goal of the season with 10 minutes remaining.

The win means Spurs will end 2010 in fourth if out-of-form Chelsea fail to beat Bolton tomorrow.

Redknapp expects the Blues to come back stronger in the second half of the campaign and has warned his team they face a tough battle ahead to stay in the hunt for Champions League football next year.

"I wouldn't write Chelsea off from winning the league," Redknapp added.

"They have winners and character. Their manager (Carlo Ancelotti) is fantastic. He won them the double. They have just had a bad run. Key players are coming back for them now.

"When Frank (Lampard) and (Michael) Essien are back fit you will see a different Chelsea.

"It's going to be hard to get into that top four.

"It will be even tougher than last year because Man United are certainties to be there too and Arsenal and Man City have improved."

Tottenham take on Fulham on New Year's Day and the former Pompey boss wants to end the festive season unbeaten having taken the scalp of Aston Villa with a 2-1 win on Boxing Day.

"It has been a great run in the Christmas period," Redknapp continued.

"It puts us in a great position.

"We have got six points so far and if we can get three more on Saturday it will be fantastic for us."

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew hailed the performances of Bale and Lennon, who were Spurs' biggest threat throughout.

"Their pace down the flanks was probably the difference between the two sides," said the Newcastle boss.

"The pace they have can undo you and your discipline as a back four and you want that in your team, you want that directness."

Spurs centre-back Michael Dawson endured a hard-fought duel with Newcastle striker Andy Carroll, who is reportedly a transfer target for Redknapp.

Pardew repeated his stance that the 21-year-old, who recently signed a new five-year deal, will not be leaving the club after the Newcastle manager held positive discussions with club owner Mike Ashley.

Pardew continued: "I have spoken to Mike and made it very clear to him that Carroll has to stay and he has said that he is not for sale."

Pardew was disappointed with Jose Enrique for Tweeting news of the hamstring injury which ruled him out of the game prior to kick-off.

"Tweeting is something that we need to look at as a club and players can't be doing it," said Pardew.

"We'll make it club policy that it has to stop."