 In his first match, Newcastle beat Hughton's former club Tottenham 4–1, at White Hart Lane.On 8 September 2008, Hughton was named caretaker manager of Newcastle following the departures of Keegan, Terry McDermott and Adam Sadler.After a defeat to newly promoted, but in-form, Hull City and a League Cup exit to Tottenham Hotspur though, Hughton stood down as caretaker and was replaced on a temporary basis by Joe Kinnear.