Nuno Espirito Santo finally got his maiden West Ham victory on the board during Sunday’s match at London Stadium, where Jacob Murphy put Newcastle ahead in the fourth minute.
West Ham, who had already hit the woodwork through Jarrod Bowen, looked to have been handed a lifeline when the attacker was seemingly fouled by Malick Thiaw in Newcastle’s box, but the decision was overturned following a VAR review.
Yet Nuno’s team stepped up a gear, with Lucas Paqueta equalising in the 35th minute, before Sven Botman’s own goal in first-half stoppage time.
A fine display from the Hammers was capped off when Tomas Soucek bundled home in the seventh minute of stoppage time, as West Ham moved up to 18th on seven points, three adrift of Burnley in 17th.
Newcastle sit 13th on 14 points, and are now without a win in their last eight away matches in the Premier League.
How the match unfolded
Bowen rattled the right-hand post in the opening exchanges, but the hosts were dealt a blow when Murphy brilliantly picked out the bottom-left corner from the edge of the box.
Newcastle escaped unscathed when Thiaw challenged Bowen, with referee Robert Jones overturning his decision to award a penalty after a consultation with VAR, as Newcastle’s centre-back got a toe to the ball.
Paqueta goal –
But West Ham’s pressure told, when Paqueta unleashed a strike that snuck through Nick Pope’s gloves and into the left-hand corner.
The turnaround was complete on the stroke of half-time – Botman inadvertently turning into his own net as he attempted to block Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s cross.
Freddie Potts, on his first league start, saw a close-range finish disallowed due to substitute Soucek drifting offside in the build-up.
West Ham, though, capped off their first home top-flight win since February deep in stoppage time when Soucek latched onto the loose ball after Pope saved Bowen’s close-range attempt and managed to slide it in.
Soucek goal WHUNEW
Paqueta delivers incredible No 10 performance
Paqueta has been linked with a transfer away from West Ham in recent media reports, and Nuno was asked about the Brazilian in his pre-match press conference.
“I’ve spoken to him about many things. We need Lucas. I told him personally and the squad that being a No 10 is more than a number. It’s a symbol,” Nuno said.
“That’s what we need from Lucas. We need him to help his team-mates, because they trust him. We know there is more to come from him.”
Paqueta certainly delivered on his end of the bargain. He was often integral, along with Bowen, to West Ham’s brightest moments.
The Brazil international had already forced a diving stop out of Pope, before sneaking in the Hammers’ equaliser and his fifth Premier League goal from outside the box.
Though Paqueta, who played in Bowen in the build-up to the hosts’ third goal, was not West Ham’s only star performer.
Bowen was excellent, and could easily have scored twice, while also seeing that penalty decision overturned.
Callum Wilson, playing against one of his former clubs in the Premier League for the first time, was also lively up top. He drew a sharp save out of Pope when West Ham were 1-0 down, and was denied by a last-ditch Thiaw clearance.
It is these kind of displays that West Ham will need from their key players if they are to drag themselves up the table, with a crucial home meeting against Burnley up next.
Newcastle’s away day struggles continue
West Ham had not won a league match since they defeated Nottingham Forest – then managed by Nuno – at the end of August.
Eddie Howe will have been eyeing up this fixture as a great chance for Newcastle to end their wait for an away league win in 2025/26.
Instead, despite Murphy’s fine finish, Newcastle were second best throughout, and in particular in midfield.
Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton and Sandro Tonali do not lose many battles, but West Ham’s starting trio of Mateus Fernandes, Potts and Paqueta were excellent, while Soucek came on and added more bite and presence.
Murphy was Newcastle’s bright spark, and saw another attempt saved in the 18th minute, while Alphonse Areola also thwarted Anthony Gordon. But, barring some half-chances in the second half, the Magpies were largely lacklustre in attack.
Nick Woltemade also struggled to make much of an impact, and was one of three players to be substituted off at half-time, but Howe’s changes did not have the desired effect.
Newcastle are back at home in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday when they face Athletic Club, before a trip to Brentford.
