West Ham secured a surprising away win for embattled boss Julen Lopetegui, outfoxing sloppy Newcastle United 2-0 at St. James’ Park on Monday.
Tomas Soucek and Aaron Wan-Bissaka scored for the Irons, who improve to 15 points but remain in 14th place. West Ham are six points clear of the bottom three.
Newcastle’s three-game winning run across all competitions ends with a thud, and they’ll stay in ninth place with 18 points.
The Irons were never really in trouble of dropping their 10th-minute lead, finishing with 49 percent possession and only requiring two saves from Lukasz Fabianski.
Eddie’s enigmatic Magpies disappoint
Newcastle have beaten Arsenal and Tottenham while drawing Spurs at St. James’ Park, super solid results and those that can make a Champions League charge. Eddie Howe’s men, however, have also been blanked by Everton and West Ham this season, clubs that are far from defensive stalwarts. There are easy complaints to make about Howe’s refusal to regularly start star Sandro Tonali and joint-leading scorer Harvey Barnes, but it doesn’t have to be personnel. Howe’s men also suffered hugely-disappointing results last season including a brutal points return from Luton Town and Everton (three of 18 available points). Yes, Alexander Isak could’ve easily scored twice but Howe has to adjust his team’s mentality for consistency even when the opponents aren’t big boys, cause this ain’t it.
Committed Irons back their boss
This was a fine defensive performance, as West Ham rebounded from a blowout loss at Forest and tepid scoreless draw with Everton to give their boss wins over Manchester United and Newcastle in their two other recent games. Llike Newcastle, West Ham have found it tough to deliver necessary results under Lopetegui, and this is just a second away win of the 2024-25 season. West Ham have a forgiving run of fixtures ahead, with Arsenal, Leicester City, Wolves, Bournemouth, Brighton, and Saints in the next six Premier League matches. If reports are true that West Ham were giving Lopetegui two games — brutal ones against Newcastle and Arsenal — to save his job, they could go from that to a proper challenge for upper mid table within a month.
Newcastle vs West Ham player ratings
(from fotmob.com)
Newcastle vs West Ham player ratings (from fotmob.com)
Newcastle vs West Ham player ratings (from fotmob.com)
What’s next?
The Magpies go to Crystal Palace at 10am ET Saturday, while West Ham host Arsenal at 12:30pm the same day.
How to watch Newcastle vs West Ham live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 3pm ET Monday (November 25)
Venue: St James’ Park — Newcastle
TV Channel: USA Network
Streaming: Stream online via NBC.com
Newcastle vs West Ham final score: 0-2
Tomas Soucek 10', Aaron Wan-Bissaka 54'
Newcastle vs West Ham live updates — By Nick Mendola
West Ham subs
Danny Ings and Vladimir Coufal enter for Emerson Palmieri and Michail Antonio.
75'.
Newcastle penalty shout! VAR...
A cross is swept toward Callum Wilson.
Konstantinos Mavropanos leaps and knocks down the leaping Wilson.
No call on the field. VAR will have a look... and doesn’t intervene to call a penalty.
73'.
Newcastle subs
Joelinton and Anthony Gordon exit for Jacob Murphy and Callum Wilson.
It’s Wilson’s first game action of the season. Injuries have kept him out of the lineup for all but four Newcastle matches since Feb. 10, 2024.
Chance!
Tonali unleashes Tino Livramento down the right side.
Livramento’s lofted cross is pretty but it leaves a lot for Isak to do, and the Swede’s header is way off the mark.
2-0 West Ham, 65'.
Newcastle sub
It’s Sandro Tonali for Longstaff, as Howe makes the obvious move.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka goal — Newcastle 0-2 West Ham (54th minute)
So poor from Newcastle.
Lucas Paqueta darts in front of a long ball and carries it into the Newcastle third.
He lays off for Jarrod Bowen, who slides a pass onto the path of a marauding Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
The Ex-Man Utd man drags a shot low past a slow-to-react Nick Pope.
Magpies bright
Harvey Barnes has again brought electricity to Newcastle off the bench.
He nearly picks out Anthony Gordon through traffic. Gordon soon finds the ball anyway and drags a low shot across goal and wide of the far post.
Newcastle sub
Harvey Barnes replaces Joe Willock, who may have suffered an injury but was a candidate to come off in any event.
Joelinton drops back into the midfield.
Halftime — Newcastle 0-1 West Ham
Solid from West Ham and disappointing from the hosts, who entered the international break with three-straight wins.
Shots are 10-6 for Newcastle, who have held 55% of the ball, but it hasn’t been good enough for a goal yet.
The Magpies have their best bench of the season available. Will we see a halftime sub?
Almost sensational!
Bruno Guimaraes spots Alexander Isak behind the back line.
Isak takes it down with his chest and snaps into a side volley but is wide of the near post!
It would’ve been highlight reel and really is should’ve been 1-1.
Two big blocks from West Ham
Sean Longstaff’s short cross becomes a chance for Anthony Gordon, but Fabianski saves the Englishman.
Willock’s powerful bid at the rebound is blocked by a West Ham defender.
Magpies improve possession but lack sharpness
Newcastle have more of the ball as the game passes the half-hour mark, but they are lacking sharpness and accuracy in possession.
Lewis Hall has a shot that deflects out by West Ham for a... goal kick?
There was a comical moment earlier as Michail Antonio’s shirt was torn down the center while in a duel.
Goal changed the game
Newcastle have not recovered from conceding the goal.
West Ham continue to apply the pressure and the Magpies are not winning the midfield.
If you read this space during Newcastle games, you’ll recognize this refrain: Sean Longstaff and Joe Willock are unsurprisingly less fit to control a game than Sandro Tonali and one of Longstaff and Willock.
Tomas Soucek goal! Newcastle 0-1 West Ham (10th minute)
The Magpies started well but West Ham have scored on their first chance.
Emerson Palmieri’s left-footed corner kick is headed home by Tomas Soucek, who got away from Joe Willock’s mark to meet the ball.
Newcastle lineup
Pope, Hall, Kelly, Schar, Livramento, Guimaraes, Longstaff, Willock, Joelinton, Gordon, Isak
West Ham lineup
Fabianski, Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Kilman, Emerson, Soler, Soucek, Paqueta, Summerville, Bowen, Antonio
Newcastle team news, focus
Newcastle have coped well with their defensive injuries and young full backs Livramento and Hall both made their full England debuts and impressed over the international break. Trippier and Wilson are close to returning which is a big boost, but Dan Burn being suspended for this game means Lloyd Kelly is likely to come in at center back. Up top the duo of Gordon and Isak have been excellent and had a great international break with England and Sweden respectively will do their confidence levels no harm. Joelinton, Harvey Barnes and Joe Willock are also providing plenty of creativity from attacking midfield and wide roles.
OUT: Sven Botman (knee), Jamaal Lascelles (knee), Emil Krafth (shoulder), Dan Burn (suspension) | QUESTIONABLE: Kieran Trippier (hamstring), Callum Wilson (back)
West Ham team news, focus
The Hammers haven’t had many absentees so far but marquee summer signing Niclas Fullkrug is still missing with a calf problem. Kudus and Alvarez are suspended and the trio of Antonio, Bowen and Paqueta are set to start in attack again. The balance in midfield and defense has been way off so far and Lopetegui is expected to start Soucek and Rodriguez in the holding roles to try and give the Hammers some stability.
OUT: Niclas Fullkrug (calf), Mohammed Kudus (suspension), Edson Alvarez (suspension)
Newcastle vs West Ham prediction
All signs point towards a pretty comfortable home win here. Isak and Gordon will pull West Ham’s leaky defense all over the place. Newcastle 3-1 West Ham.
