JUST when things were starting to look up for Newcastle United comes a frustrating and untimely setback.
This was supposed to be a night when Newcastle wedged themselves right in the heart of the European mix.
Victory over West Ham United on Monday night would have left Eddie Howe’s side just a point shy of third place Chelsea. Instead, they’re now just three points above the 14th placed Hammers, who headed for Tyneside having conceded seven goals in their previous two away games but returned to the capital with a clean sheet.
That wasn’t down to fine West Ham defending, rather a lack of cutting edge from Newcastle, who had 36 touches in the West Ham box and 18 shots but only managed to test goalkeeper Lukas Fabianski on two occasions.
And Newcastle paid the price on a night of firsts. West Ham hadn’t scored and Newcastle hadn’t conceded a single goal from a corner this season prior to Monday night. That was until Tomas Soucek’s headed opener eight minutes into the first half.
And Aaron Wan-Bissaka hadn’t scored a Premier League goal since February 2021. That was until the right-back popped up with the decisive second West Ham goal eight minutes into the second half.
Newcastle scored three goals in the final 13 minutes to stun West Ham in last season’s 4-3 victory at St James’ Park but a repeat of that miracle was never on the cards. The Magpies played well enough in the first half but ran out of steam and ideas in the second and West Ham and their under-fire boss Julen Lopetegui managed the game well.
You’d understand if Eddie Howe puts this down as one of those nights for Newcastle but there’s no getting away from the fact it was an opportunity missed.
To add to Newcastle’s frustrations, Joe Willock was replaced at half-time after getting a knock in the first half and Bruno wasn’t moving comfortably when he was forced off late on.
And the very early signs had suggested this would follow the form book. Newcastle started like a team intent on continuing their recent upsurge and had the ball in the net inside five minutes only for Alexander Isak to be denied a fifth goal in as many games by the offside flag.
The Magpies were confident, aggressive and positive. And then they were behind, the manner of the goal making the early setback all the more frustrating.
Soucek is already enough of a threat at set-pieces without allowing the 29-year-old to roam free in the box. He stepped away from Lloyd Kelly, met Emerson’s corner and gave Nick Pope no chance with a thumping header.
The opener momentarily rattled Newcastle and buoyed West Ham, who were lively in attack but panicked at the back and it soon became clear why the visitors had been so leaky at the back. Newcastle had no issues creating chances, but lacked the clinical edge to finish them.
Jean-Clair Todibo almost got himself a Newcastle assist when the West Ham defender made a mess of a routine clearance and allowed Anthony Gordon to pounce, only for Fabianski to deny the England international.
Isak then took down a stunning Bruno pass on his chest but should have at least hit the target, flashing a volley wide.
The lively Lewis Hall went close, as did Willock, whose injury misfortunate was epitomised by an inadvertent tackle from his own teammate Sean Longstaff. He was able to continue for a while but then replaced at the break.
On came Harvey Barnes, the hero who settled last season’s thriller in this fixture. And it was heroics that Newcastle would soon require, West Ham displaying the clinical edge that the hosts desperately lacked.
Against the run of play, Lucas Paquetá robbed his countryman Bruno and found Jarrod Bowen. He touched it into the path of the marauding Wan-Bisakka, who found the far corner. And Newcastle found themselves with a mountain to climb.
It could have been worse had Kelly not done well to deny Crysencio Summerville when the winger looked certain to score a third.
Howe turned to his bench and introduced Sandro Tonali, who was followed 10 minutes later by Jacob Murphy and the returning Callum Wilson. And Wilson’s first act of the season should have been to win a penalty when he was used as a climbing frame by Konstantinos Mavropanos, only for Craig Pawson to wave away the claims of the striker and West Ham somehow survived a VAR check. They comfortably survived the final stages.
