Foot & Soccer Soccer Match Reports, Football News
A missed alternative to maneuver as much as sixth for Newcastle United and defeat that effectively and actually bursts our bubble as an out-of-form West Ham aspect pulled off a 2-0 win at St James’ Park.
The Hammers scored early in each halves and in opposition to the run of play on every event, however we wasted far too many massive openings, defended awfully for his or her targets and had been flat as a pancake in a second half the guests completely managed after making it 2-0.
We might’ve counted ourselves barely unfortunate within the first half, the place Gordon, Isak and Willock all went shut and our urgent and possession play was good. Nevertheless, that lack of innovative price us – because it did in final month’s residence defeat to Brighton – and the second half was terrible, the place heads dropped, our form was non-existent, Eddie Howe’s subs didn’t work in any respect and we by no means seemed like scoring, failing to muster a single shot on purpose within the ultimate 45.
The end result leaves us tenth within the league and with simply 13 targets scored in our opening 12 video games. At this stage final season, we hade greater than twice that variety of targets, giving Howe a problem to not solely discover his finest XI however that spark within the ultimate third forward of Saturday’s journey to Selhurst Park.
Howe made one change for this one, the place Lloyd Kelly got here in at centre-back for Dan Burn, who sat this one out by way of suspension after selecting up his fifth warning of the season in our 3-1 win at Nottingham Forest final trip.
There was no Lewis Miley within the squad; not resulting from harm, simply the results of Callum Wilson and Kieran Trippier’s long-awaited return to the bench, which seemed sturdy with £90m duo Sandro Tonali and Harvey Barnes additionally ready in reserve.
We got here out the blocks rapidly and virtually took the lead as Isak’s dinked end was flagged for offside, however it was the Hammers who punished us on the different finish as Soucek headed in a nook after shedding Kelly.
It was a irritating first half, not only for the gentle purpose we conceded however our struggles within the ultimate ball regardless of loads of possession and urgent. The most important likelihood fell for Gordon, who ought to’ve punished Todibo’s error earlier than Fabianski smothered his shut vary effort, but there have been others responsible of missed possibilities as Willock curled large and Isak couldn’t hit the goal after bringing down a beautiful ball in behind from Bruno.
Willock was wasteful and he was punished on the break, as super-sub Harvey Barnes got here on. It was his heroics that helped us to a 4-3 comeback win in opposition to the Hammers earlier this 12 months and Howe would’ve been hoping for one thing related as Barnes’ introduction noticed Gordon transfer to the proper and Joelinton drop right into a left-sided midfield function.
Nevertheless, regardless of one other first rate begin to the half, unhealthy defending on the different finish price us once more as Bruno misplaced a duel to finest pal Lucas Paqueta earlier than Wan-Bissaka acquired on the tip of Bowen’s move and fired in off the publish. 2-0 and one other suckerpunch of a purpose to double West Ham’s lead.
We huffed and puffed after, made a number of modifications – Tonali, Wilson and Murphy changed Longstaff, Joelinton and Gordon – however barely examined Fabianski. We’d gone completely flat and would’ve conceded a 3rd if it wasn’t for Kelly’s last-ditch block to disclaim Summerville.
Isak headed an honest likelihood large after good work from Livramento and, after going to a 4-4-2 following Wilson’s introduction, our fit-again No.9 was denied what seemed like a transparent penalty after being bundled over by Mavrapanos. And that was that, as West Ham seemed snug within the closing levels to see out a 2-0 win.
Newcastle XI: Pope – Livramento, Schar, Kelly, Corridor – Longstaff, Guimaraes, Willock – Gordon, Isak, Joelinton. SUBS: Dubravka, Trippier, Targett, Tonali, Barnes, Murphy, Almiron, Osula, Wilson.
West Ham XI: Fabianski – Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Kilman, Emerson – Soler, Paquetá, Soucek – Bowen, Antonio, Summerville. SUBS: Areola, Cresswell, Coufal, Mavropanos, Guilherme, Rodríguez, Irving, Scarles, Ings.
Subsequent up, a visit to Crystal Palace subsequent weekend earlier than we welcome Arne Slot’s Liverpool to St James’ Park subsequent Wednesday.
HWTL.
