Newcastle United picked up their third win of the season away to West Ham after the hosts produced a pedestrian first-half performance and were unable to complete a late comeback.
Ciaran Clark opened the scoring for Newcastle after 16 minutes as Jonjo Shelvey’s set-piece was whipped into the back post; following which Joelinton squared a header back across goal for the centre back to nod in from close range.
Just six minutes later the Magpies doubled their lead after more slack defending from the Hammers. Another set-piece out wide was quickly passed short to Jetro Willems, whose deep cross caught West Ham out leaving Fabian Schar to head over an onrushing Roberto.
After a raft more chances, Shelvey extended Newcastle’s lead to three goals with a spectacular long-range free-kick. Fabian Balbuena ignited West Ham’s comeback attempt after he bundled the ball in from close range with less than 20 minutes left to play, leaving West Ham fans praying for a late comeback.
With seconds remaining, Robert Snodgrass struck a sweet volley low into the bottom right corner from the edge of the area, but it was merely a conciliation for the Hammers and their home fans.
Newcastle’s fast start
Newcastle scored two goals in the first half of a Premier League game for the first time since facing Tottenham in December 2006. The hosts made it easy for them, but Steve Bruce’s side took full advantage, creating chances at will. On multiple occasions, West Ham were caught cold from long balls, and the score could easily have been greater had Newcastle produced more clinical finishing.
In total Newcastle were able to record nine shots on target from 31% possession, which shows how reliant they were on fast breaks and set-piece situations.
Bruce deserves praise
It was at the eleventh time of asking last season that Rafael Benitez recorded his first win of the campaign, Steve Bruce already has three to his name. In fact, he may not have been a popular appointment, but the manager has collected double the number of points the Magpies had at this stage last season, with 12, and they are two places higher in the Premier League table.
Considering Newcastle have played fixtures against five of the traditional big six this season their points total is all the more impressive, and fans should perhaps consider showing the ex-Sunderland manager a little more respect than he is currently receiving.
Two little too late for West Ham
Up until the hour mark, West Ham were scarcely present in this home fixture as their players aimlessly ambled around the pitch. Considering they had the vast majority of possession, it was even more disappointing they were unable to produce, considering the abundance of talent they have at their disposal.
Sebastian Haller twice attempted bicycle kicks, though neither effort seriously troubled Martin Dubravka, but there was little cutting edge in a strike force that also contained the often-electric Felipe Anderson and Andriy Yarmolenko. It was not until they were three goals down and the game was beyond reach that West Ham began to threaten the Newcastle defence- by this point, it was already too late.
West Ham must amend sloppy defending
What will particularly concern Manuel Pellegrini is not just the torrid run of form his team finds themselves in, but also the manner in which they concede. Time and again, the visitors carved out opportunities from simple long vertical passes and set-piece scenarios which should have been defended with relative ease.
West Ham tend to be a form side. Still, if they are to get out of this wretched run, they must perform the basics of defending to a higher standard or quality opposition will tear them apart.
Allan Saint-Maximin bangs on the door of his first goal
On at least three occasions at the London Stadium, Newcastle’s summer signings found himself in one on one situations with Roberto in the West Ham goal, but the Frenchman was unable to capitalise. While he is obviously an instrumental outlet for the Magpies, if he is to progress in the Premier League, he must begin to make the most of his opportunities.
It is unlikely the winger will get many better than the ones he created at the weekend so to avoid becoming the new Adama Traore, developing his end product is essential.
Up Next
West Ham travel to Burnley, while Newcastle host Bournemouth, with both games being played on Saturday afternoon.
