ANOTHER ST JAMES’ PARK CLASSIC

Written by: Floyd Nkanyane

An extraordinary Premier League contest at St James’ Park took place today with hosts Newcastle United taking a 4-3 victory over West Ham after a seven-goal thriller. Isak put the hosts into the lead after six minutes from the spot following a Coufal foul on Gordon in the box. West Ham responded, though, first levelling through Antonio before Kudus nudged them ahead in the 10^th minute of first-half added time. Bowen looked to have put the game beyond Newcastle’s reach as he netted three minutes after half-time, but the Magpies would reply in some style.

The Retaliation

First, Isak reduced the arrears from the spot after Phillips’ horrible start to his West Ham career continued by bringing down Gordon for another penalty, before Barnes equalised following Isak’s clever throughball. Howe’s men weren’t finished though, and neither was Barnes as he picked up the ball from Gordon in the 90^th minute before arrowing a superb finish past Fabianski and in to secure the three points, even with Gordon picking up a second yellow in added time.

The Insight

West Ham lost a Premier League match in which they led by 2+ goals for the first time since September 2016, and a 4-2 home defeat to Watford

Newcastle came from two goals down to win a Premier League match for the first time since March 2019 (3-2 vs Everton).

Harvey Barnes became the first Newcastle player to score 2+ goals as a sub in a Premier League match since Callum Wilson in April 2023 (v Southampton). He’s the first sub to score a 90^th minute winner in a Premier League match for the Magpies since Ayoze Pérez against Spurs in December 2015

The win moves Newcastle up into eighth, and crucially just a point and a place behind West Ham in seventh. The Magpies will look to ride the wave of this incredible victory when they host Everton on Tuesday, while Moyes will hope his side can respond the same day with a game against rivals Tottenham.