Newcastle United boss Sam Allardyce has challenged his players to crack the top four this season after Monday's victory over Tottenham.

Targeting victory over Reading this weekend, Allardyce said: "I have always split the season up into four phases and we have one game left.

"If it's a win, that gives us 20 points from 10 games. That is the ultimate goal for now. Then it's two points a game. That's a top-four finish.

"We are not saying we will be able to keep it up, perhaps we will, perhaps not. But we've taken 17 points from nine games and it's the best start to a season here in more than 10 years.

"I think it's all coming together considering we all just came together this summer. We need to work on keeping a clean sheet, but we are scoring freely."