Jack Patmore reporting from the London Stadium.
Newcastle United exploited West Ham United’s struggles with a 5-1 victory in East London.
Newcastle United players celebrate their 5-1 victory – Credit: Getty Images/Chloe Knott
The Hammers made a bright start and they came close to taking the lead. Jarrod Bowen’s cross was nearly put into his own net by Bruno Guimarães as the Brazilian hit the post.
The visitors made the break through with five minutes on the clock when Callum Wilson was given the freedom of the six-yard box and headed home.
Minutes later, Eddie Howe’s side doubled their advantage as Fabian Schär sent Joelinton through on goal with an excellent pass and he went around Łukasz Fabiański and slotted home. The goal was originally ruled out for offside, however, it was overturned by VAR which raised the decibels in the Newcastle away end.
West Ham were still a threat on the attack and they were creating chances. Lucas Paquetá came close when his free-kick was tipped away by Nick Pope. They deservedly halved the deficit just before half time as Kurt Zouma angled in a powerful header.
With spectator’s barely back in their seats, Newcastle regained their two-goal lead 23 seconds into the second half. Nayef Aguerd held onto the ball on the edge of the penalty area for too long and he was dispossessed by Jacob Murphy who set-up Wilson for his second of the night.
Despite an encouraging first half performance, it was defensive errors that brought about West Ham’s downfall. Fabiański’s error outside the box put the ball on a plate for Alexander Isak who calmly dinked the ball into the net.
Joelinton capped off a great away performance for the Magpies as he dispatched the ball into the corner on the 90-minute mark. Newcastle’s magnificent season marches on, while more pressure mounts on David Moyes after another poor defeat.
West Ham United: Fabiański, Kehrer (Coufal 63’), Zouma, Aguerd, Emerson, Souček (Downes 63’), Rice, Paquetá, Bowen, Benrahma (Cornet 63’), Antonio (Ings 63’)
Newcastle United: Pope, Trippier (Manquillo 87’), Schär, Botman, Burn (Targett 85’), Longstaff, Guimarães, Joelinton, Murphy (Willock 64’), Wilson (Isak 64’), Saint-Maximin (Gordon 64’)
Attendance: 62,470
