West Ham crash Newcastle party thanks to Paqueta equaliser

Riding the wave of positivity after reaching the Carabao Cup final, and having already seen Joe Willock’s goal ruled out, Newcastle went ahead just three minutes into proceedings when Callum Wilson latched onto Sean Longstaff’s defence-splitting pass and calmly finished. The Hammers offered glimpses that they could get back into the game, although Sven Botman blocked Lucas Paquetá’s venomous attempt in a display of the solidity that has become so synonymous with the Magpies this term.

While Fabian Schär flicked an attempt marginally wide, West Ham had got themselves on top, and Newcastle’s defence was finally breached shortly after the half-hour mark, after Eddie Howe’s side had previously gone five PL matches without conceding. After having his previous shot deflected wide, Paquetá controlled Declan Rice’s exquisite corner delivery and instinctively struck for his second West Ham goal. Vladimír Coufal’s free-kick offered Nayef Aguerd an opportunity to head in his maiden Hammers goal before HT, but the Morocco international couldn’t keep his attempt down.

See stats from the match at Flashscore

Both teams showed intent after the break, and a block was required from Coufal to deny Allan Saint-Maximin a goal on the Frenchman’s first competitive start since November. Anthony Gordon was left on the bench when West Ham beat Everton in their last PL match, but was called upon by Howe in the 69th minute for his Magpies debut and immediately excited the St. James’ Park crowd. It looked as though the winger had released Wilson, but Aguerd recovered to make an outstanding challenge.

Wilson then headed straight at Łukasz Fabiański following Kieran Trippier’s inviting free-kick delivery, as West Ham stubbornly defended the draw and went a point above the relegation zone, having lost just one of their last six in all competitions. Meanwhile, Newcastle have gone six competitive matches unbeaten and are assured of their place in the Champions League spots for another gameweek, despite the disappointment of failing to win for a second consecutive PL game.

Flashscore Man of the Match: Nayef Aguerd (West Ham United)