Hammers Unable To Claim Newcastle Double

The results on the opening weekend of May sent West Ham United back into the relegation zone and they haven’t been able to climb out since. Sunday’s 3-1 defeat to Newcastle United at St James’ Park means that the Hammers now need a victory in their final game of the season at home to newly-promoted Leeds United on Sunday and hope that results elsewhere go in their favour.

Nuno Espírito Santo changed formation and went with three at the back in the 1-0 home defeat by league leaders Arsenal a week ago and stuck with the same system on Tyneside, but he did make one alteration to the team, as Callum Wilson started against his former club in place of Valentín Castellanos, who dropped to the bench. Youngsters Freddie Potts, Oliver Scarles and Mohamadou Kanté were all involved in the matchday squad.

It doesn’t matter how long, or indeed how well players prepare for games, it’s all about what they then do on the pitch that matters. The East Londoners recovered from a goal behind to win 3-1 in Stratford over six months ago but unfortunately, there was no repeat here.

The evening didn’t start well for the visitors however, they did survive a scare early on when Tomáš Souček was fortunate not to give away a penalty for handball. Referee Jarred Gillett it gave nothing and his original decision was backed up by VAR official Craig Pawson. Chelsea loanee Axel Disasi then had to block a shot from Sandro Tonali.

The action had been underway for fifteen minutes within which a crazy four-minute period ensued where the hosts grabbed a two-goal advantage through Nick Woltemade and William Osula. All in all, the game started with twenty minutes which the ever-loyal fan base would rather forget!!!

The game had calmed down somewhat after that “mad spell” and Mateus Fernandes tried to reduce the arrears but unfortunately, Bruno Guimarães was in the way of his shot.

Shortly after that, the Hammers’ Head-Coach realised that his plan wasn’t working so, he not only changed his tactics but, he also sent on Castellanos in place of Jean-Clair Todibo.

The change certainly made an impact as there was suddenly more intent to the visitors’ play with the Argentine soon giving Eddie Howe’s men plenty to think about.

As expected, he was straight into the action, meeting a cross from Crysencio Summerville but unfortunately his shot was expertly saved by home goalkeeper Nick Pope. The former Burnley stopper was worked again seconds later, as the ball then hit El Hadji Malick Diouf, but the Senegalese defender was also denied.

When Gillett blew the whistle for half-time, the ever-loyal fan base would have been wondering just how costly that first-half performance may be in terms of the overall picture.

Although the Magpies continued to have the upper-hand when the action recommenced, West Ham were much improved and kept trying to get back into the game. As he did earlier in the encounter Fernandes again went close on fifty six minutes, but unfortunately, Pope was able to hold his high shot.

Newcastle then had a great chance to score a third goal but the Hammers were now showing resilience, as Mads Hermansen firstly kept out Lewis Hall, before Harvey Barnes followed up but fortunately, Konstantinos Mavropanos was in the right place at the right time to block. The pressure subsided when an effort from Guimarães missed the target by inches.

Tensions boiled over just two minutes later, as Souček fouled Guimarães and was subsequently booked by Gillett.

Just after the hour mark, Espírito Santo opted to make a double change, as both Pablo Felipe and Kanté took the places of Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Souček.

The Brazilian’s first involvement on the pitch summed up his team’s performance. Diouf took a throw-in and Felipe’s loose touch was pounced upon by Osula, who received possession back from substitute Joe Willock, who had earlier replaced Tonali, before the former Sheffield United man beat Hermansen again.

Whilst it would have been the most unlikely of comebacks, West Ham still had over twenty minutes to pull something off and four more had passed before Castellanos tried his luck and Pope was beaten from out of nowhere after Hermansen had sent a long ball forward.

In no time at all, West Ham had three opportunities but were unable to make any of them count. The travelling contingent thought that a penalty should have been awarded their way after Wilson was brought down by Hall but, both Gillett and VAR agreed that the challenge wasn’t worthy of a spot-kick.

Mavropanos then proceeded to shoot but unfortunately, his effort went well wide. Bowen also had a go but could only direct his attempt straight at Pope.

The Irons kept the pressure up and although the home stopper had prevented his former teammate Wilson from beating him, he was powerless when Castellanos went close, but Pope was mightily relieved to see the attempt hit the crossbar, before the mini-battle between the pair ended when the forward had his final shot saved.

I honestly don’t know which of two teams would have been more pleased to see seven minutes of stoppage time go up on the fourth officials board, as it meant that there was more time for further goals. In the end though, the scoreline remained unchanged.

For Espírito Santo and his players now, the focus is all on beating Daniel Farke’s men on Sunday afternoon.