The meeting between Newcastle and West Ham barely had time to get started before the home team was awarded a penalty.
Anthony Gordon was brought down in the West Ham penalty area by Vladimir Coufal and the referee pointed directly to the penalty spot.
Up to the penalty spot stepped Alexander Isak – who surely rolled in 1-0 to Newcastle.
– Really good penalty by Alexander Isak. Shows with his body that he should shoot in one direction, but then rolls the ball into the opposite corner. Areola is going the wrong way. Fantastic start for Newcastle, says BBC pundit Chris Sutton.
15 minutes later it was level at St James Park. Michail Antonio got the finishing position after a delicious pass from Lucas Paquetá, then followed up by safely slotting the 1-1 goal past the keeper’s right post.
In added time in the first half, Newcastle came close to regaining the lead when Bruno Guimarães pulled a projectile off the crossbar. But instead the visitors would take the lead.
Jarrod Bowen quickly set up a free kick in the 10th minute of added time. The ball eventually ended up at the feet of Mohammed Kudus, who made it 2-1 with his seventh league goal of the season.
– Newcastle’s defenders must react faster. You learn at U9 level that if it looks like someone is going to take a quick free kick, stand in front of the ball. Stopping a goal is worth a warning. Weak by Newcastle, but very smart by West Ham, says Sutton.
Sutton was then as critical of the Newcastle defense’s actions at the 1-3 goal as Bowen himself three minutes into the second half.
– Bowen has acres of space in the middle. Kudus finds him from the left wing, after which Bowen can easily put in 3-1 from 15 meters. Schoolyard defense by West Ham.
From a Swedish perspective, boring pictures followed. Emil Krafth, who was substituted in the 17th minute for the injured Jamaal Lascelles, was substituted after sustaining an injury in the 56th minute. The Swede went straight down into the players’ tunnel for treatment.
In the 75th minute, Gordon was again brought down in the West Ham penalty area and the referee awarded another penalty. For the second time in the match, Isak stepped forward, and this time too he safely placed the penalty in the goal to make it 2-3.
With seven minutes left to play, Newcastle managed to equalize – but this time Isak had to “make do” with acting as a forward. The Swedish national team striker hit a delicious deep cross to Harvey Barnes, who made it 3-3 from close range.
“Brilliant passing by Isak”, writes former Norwegian star player Jan Aage Fjørtoft on X.
In the end, Newcastle would also complete a turnaround. Same Barnes stepped up in stoppage time to make it 4-3 for the home side, sending St James Park into ecstasy.
The victory means that Newcastle are closing in on West Ham in the table. There is now only one point between seventh-placed West Ham (44) and eighth-placed Newcastle (43).
Startelvor:
Newcastle: Dubravka – Lovramento, Lascelles, Schär, Burn – Longstaff, Guimarães, Willock – Murphy, Isak, Gordon.
West HamAreola – Coufal, Zouma, Mavropanos, Emerson – Soucek, Ward-Prowse – Bowen, Paqueta, Kudus – Antonio.
