West Ham Beat Newcastle And The Pope
In his pre-match news conference on Friday ahead of the home clash with Newcastle United on Sunday afternoon, West Ham United Head-Coach Nuno Espírito Santo spoke about the need to stick together and being resilient and that’s exactly what he got from his team, as the Portuguese delivered a first home win since 27 February, as they beat Newcastle United 3-1 in Stratford.
The Portuguese made three changes to the side that lost to newly-promoted Leeds United at Elland Road eight days earlier. Tomáš Souček and Andrew Irving dropped to the bench, as youngster Freddie Potts came into the starting line-up, along with Mateus Fernandes. Potts was given his full debut.
In the previous two games, Espírito Santo has opted not to play a striker but, on this occasion, he started Callum Wilson in attack as the striker was given the chance to face his former club, coming in for Oliver Scarles. The defender broke his collarbone in the early stages of the defeat in West Yorkshire but he has since undergone successful surgery.
Another of the club’s Development Squad players featured in this weekend’s matchday squad, as Ezra Mayers took his place amongst the substitutes alongside Luis Guilherme.
The home fans were joyous as ever before the action got underway and they might have seen an early goal but unfortunately, captain Jarrod Bowen’s effort hit the post.
Eddie Howe’s side were still to claim a win on the road but seconds after that scare, Jacob Murphy put them on their way to achieving that feat when he beat Alphonse Areola to give the visitors an early advantage.
To their credit though, the Irons kept going and went close through Wilson, but his attempt was saved by former teammate Nick Pope.
Shortly after, the Hammers were given an opportunity to equalise when referee Robert Jones awarded them a penalty, after Malick Thiaw brought down Bowen in the area.
It became clear that the VAR officials had a different view and told Jones to review his decision on the pitchside monitor. On closer inspection, he didn’t award the spot-kick.
West Ham have found it difficult to deal with corners so far this season but, thankfully in this game, they dealt with every single delivery that was sent over. The Magpies were awarded one after Areola had prevented Murphy from scoring his second of the game. Up the other end, Lucas Paquetá’s free-kick was diverted onto the post by Pope.
That wasn’t the end of the action for the former Burnley goalkeeper though, as he was tested again by Max Kilman minutes later. He was equal to that effort too, as he tipped it over the bar.
With everything going against them so far, it looked like the Irons would have to endure another unlucky day. That was until the 35th minute when Paquetá tried his luck and Pope was finally beaten to the delight of the majority inside the stadium.
Although the visitors came up with a response to being back on level terms, they then began to realise that they were in a contest. It took two brilliant saves from Areola in quick succession to deny both Anthony Gordon and Joelinton. However, the Frenchman wasn’t troubled either side of those two efforts, as Murphy blazed his latest shot over.
Crysencio Summerville gave Pope more work to do just before the break but the stopper was able to keep the former Leeds United winger out.
A large amount of stoppage time was added at the end of the half and in the dying seconds, visiting defender Sven Botman put Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s cross past his own goalkeeper. There have been boos so often before the break at previous home games, but it was a completely different atmosphere here, as the players were clapped and cheered off the pitch when Jones blew the whistle.
The hosts stood firm in the opening stages of the second-half, but minutes after Souček came on to replace Wilson, a defensive mistake allowed Murphy through but fortunately he sent his effort wide.
For the rest of the game, Espírito Santo’s men dominated proceedings and went close on a number of occasions. Potts actually found the back of the net but he was denied by VAR, as Souček was offside in the build-up.
With eleven minutes of normal time to play, the Irons made their second change as Kyle Walker-Peters was sent on to take the place of Summerville.
Newcastle kept applying pressure but now that the East Londoners were in front, there was no way that they were going to let them back into the game.
It was a day for home debuts and in an effort to add more defensive solidity, the Portuguese handed Brighton and Hove Albion loanee Igor Julio his, as the defender entered the fray for Fernandes.
The visitors might have equalised but thankfully, Areola was alert to the danger posed and held onto the header from half-time substitute William Osula.
Another lengthy period of stoppage time was added, during which Souček made up for interfering with play earlier in the contest by being in the right place to smash home the rebound after Bowen’s shot was initially saved by Pope. The reaction from the home support to that goal was something to behold, as they went ballistic when reacting to what the Czech midfielder had done.
The ever-loyal fanbase will now be hoping that their team can carry the momentum gained from that performance into another home game, as former fan favourite Scott Parker brings his newly-promoted Burnley side to the East End on Saturday afternoon.