Premier LeagueNewcastle United 4-3 West Ham United
Saturday, 30th March 2024
by James Haley
A depleted Magpies side came back with three late goals against West Ham to secure a 4-3 win at St James Park.
The home side started the quickest of the two teams and within six minutes, referee Rob Jones awarded a penalty to Newcastle after Anthony Gordon was quicker to get to the ball and Vladimir Coufal tripped him in the box.Alexander Isak calmly stroked the ball into the bottom left corner to give the Magpies the lead.
A key moment of the game happened when Michail Antonio and Jamal Lascelles were competing for the ball and the Newcastle captain came out worst of the two, resulting in his substitution. This meant that the home side had to re-jig their whole defence to put substitute Emil Krafth at right back.
This re-organisation allowed West Ham to have more attacking joy, which ultimately led to the equaliser. With 20- minutes on the clock, Lucas Paqueta timed his pass over the defence to perfection to release Antonio, who had plenty of time to smash the ball past Martin Dubravka.
The Geordies almost re-took the lead as Jacob Murphy's cross was met by Gordon, however his header fell just wide of the post. West Ham then had a chance of their own as James Ward-Prowse's free-kick was nodded down by Kurt Zouma to Jarrod Bowen, whose snapshot was straight at the 'keeper.
The game then turned manic as Bruno Guimereas' curled effort hit the bar from just outside the box, before Mohamed Kudus found himself through on goal only to be thwarted by Dan Burn in what looked to be a foul. Referee Jones saw nothing untoward and gave nothing.
The Hammers would take the lead in the 10th minute of first half injury-time as a quick free-kick surprised the Newcastle defence and Bowen layed it back for Kudus, whose powerful shot found the back of the net.
The home side thought they had been hard done by as Fabian Schar was on the floor rubbing his nose when the free kick was taken, but the referee deemed the foul to be too soft to stop the game. Llooking at the replay, it was clear that the Swiss defender was trying to use theatrics to his advantage.
Unlike the first 45 minutes, it was West Ham who would start the quickest as just three minutes after the restart, Kudus broke away from a Magpies corner. He sent Bowen through on goal with a long way to go, but despite this the winger kept his cool and slotted it into the bottom left corner to score his 15th league goal of the season.
Newcastle would attempt to claw themselves back into the game as both Isak and substitute Sean Longstaff had golden chances in the centre of the box, but failed to find the target. But the game changed as David Moyes decided to bring on loanee Kalvin Phillips for Antonio to try and see out the game, with the striker flagging.
Shortly after his introduction, Gordon played a ball to Harvey Barnes at the back post whose half-volley was excellently saved by Lukasz Fabianski. The Pole had come on at half-time for the injured Areola.
The Hammers' downfall would begin as a scramble in the box ended with Phillips kicking Gordon which, after a VAR check, somehow resulted with the award of a penalty. It was highly controversial as Gordon placed his leg in front of the Manchester City loanee after he had swung his leg to kick it.
Isak slotted it home, the same way he had in the first half, to give Newcastle hope of a comeback on 77 minutes.
Those hopes turned into reality in the 83rd minute as Isak received the ball and played through Barnes, who placed a low shot in between Fabianski's legs.
Deep into added-on time, Newcastle would take the lead for the first time since the opening goal of the game as Barnes turned away from Phillips and rocketed a shot into the bottom right corner. Somewhat belatedly, Gordon would be given a second yellow card on the 94th minute after kicking the ball away.
Despite Newcastle being down to ten men, the Magpies would have the better of the remaining chances as West Ham committed men forward, but both times their efforts were smothered by Fabianski.
The Hammers would enjoy one more chance to save a point very late in the game as Kudus swung in a cross for Tomas Soucek - who could only chest the ball wide of the post. And that, was that.
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Click to view all West Ham United vs Newcastle United match reports Click to view all match reports by James Haley Like to share your thoughts on this article? Please visit the KUMB Forum to leave a comment.Player Ratings
Alphonse AreolaDidn't put a foot wrong before being substituted at half time.
Vladimir Coufal
Couldn't deal with Gordon or Barnes throughout the game and didn't pose a threat down the other end.
Emerson Palmieri
Nothing special for the left back today as Newcastle kept him pretty quiet.
Kurt Zouma
Average game for the Frenchman..
Konstantinos Mavropanos
His best game in a West Ham shirt with some crucial interceptions and one particular outstanding piece of defending when he hooked the ball clear to deny Isak.
Tomas Soucek
He cannot replicate what Edson Alvarez does in our system so it was a poor game for the Czech.
James Ward-Prowse
An improved performance on his return to the team.
Lucas Paqueta
Very good assists for the first goal and he dictated the game up until the point where Antonio went off.
Mohammed Kudus
Great dribbling as always from the Ghanian and a brilliantly taken goal to give us the lead in the first half.
Jarrod Bowen
Took his goal well but apart from that it wasn't his best performance this season as he struggled to break down the Magpies' defence.
Michail Antonio
The lynchpin to our attack today as soon as he came off the attack was non-existent. Great finish for the first goal.
Substitutes
Lukasz Fabianski(Replaced Areola, 46) One or two good saves, then beaten for three goals.
Kalvin Phillips
(Replaced Antonio, 68) These mistakes are not unlucky anymore, he is a poor player and the definition of a flop.
Ben Johnson
(Replaced Ward-Prowse, 83) n/c
Danny Ings
(Replaced Coufal, 90) n/c
Aaron Cresswell
Did not play.
Angelo Ogbonna
Did not play.
George Earthy
Did not play.
Maxwel Cornet
Did not play.
Divin Mubama
Did not play.
Match Facts
West Ham United: Alphonse Areola, Vladimir Coufal, Emerson Palmieri, Kurt Zouma, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Tomas Soucek, James Ward-Prowse, Lucas Paqueta, Mohammed Kudus, Jarrod Bowen, Michail Antonio.Goals: Michail Antonio 21 Mohammed Kudus 45 Jarrod Bowen 48 .
Booked: Tomas Soucek 0 David Moyes 0 .
Sent off: None.
Newcastle United: Dúbravka, Livramento (Almirón 56 (Barnes 67)), Lascelles (Krafth 17 (Hall 57)), Schär, Burn, Longstaff, Guimarães, Willock (Anderson 57), Murphy, Gordon, Isak.
Subs not used: Karius, Dummett, Ritchie, White.
Goals: Isak (6,77 pens), Barnes (83, 90).
Booked: Gordon, Barnes, Howe, Isak.
Sent off: None.
Referee: Rob Jones.
Attendance: 0.
Man of the Match: Konstantinos Mavropanos.