Football Review | West Ham United 3 - 1 Newcastle United

West Ham fight back to claim first home win of the season

Paqueta inspires comeback as Nuno’s side overcome Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United side

Author | Jamie Pugh

Stadium | London Stadium

Spirited West Ham came from behind to secure their first home victory of the season, beating Newcastle United 3-1 at the London Stadium.

Jacob Murphy had opened the scoring for Newcastle with a strike from the edge of the area, moments after Jarrod Bowen had struck the post at the other end.

West Ham responded with determination and were rewarded when Lucas Paqueta fired in a superb equaliser from distance. Their pressure told again before half-time, when Sven Botman slid Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s cross into his own net.

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Nuno Espírito Santo’s side sealed the points in stoppage time as substitute Tomas Soucek finished from close range after Nick Pope had denied Bowen.

It was no less than the hosts deserved after a spirited performance, though they were denied a first-half penalty when referee Robert Jones overturned his original decision following a VAR review. Replays showed Newcastle defender Malick Thiaw had made contact with the ball before fouling Bowen.

West Ham not only found a way back into the match but went on to claim a vital win that lifts them to within three points of 17th-placed Burnley. It was also Nuno’s first Premier League victory since taking charge in September.

Nuno’s breakthrough as West Ham finally find their fight

Bowen’s expression told the story. Barely half a minute after rattling the post, the West Ham captain could only watch as Newcastle broke forward and took the lead through Jacob Murphy. It was a familiar setback, echoing last week’s early concession against Leeds United.

Yet rather than wilt, West Ham responded. Despite the frustration of hitting the post and seeing a penalty overturned within the opening ten minutes, they gathered themselves and began to impose their game.

Nuno Espírito Santo’s tactical shift to a back four and his recall of Freddie Potts, Mateus Fernandes and Callum Wilson proved inspired. The benefits of extended work on the training ground were plain to see, with players operating in tight, disciplined units.

But it was the determination and unity that stood out most. After collecting only four points from their opening nine matches, this was the display Nuno had been waiting for.

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Even as supporters staged a post-match protest against the board, the home crowd rightly applauded the team from the pitch at full-time.

The task now is to sustain that momentum, starting with the crucial visit of fellow strugglers Burnley to the London Stadium next week.