For West Ham’s crucial match against Newcastle, Lopetegui again changed the layout in midfield – starting Soler alongside Soucek and Paquetá. The early signs weren’t good, Isak having the ball in the net after 4 minutes, being judged by VAR to be about 20 cms off side. Worrying how easily our back two were sliced open. Ten minutes gone, West Ham were looking like a counter attacking team, Bowen breaking well and combining with Antonio to win a corner which Tomas Soucek met perfectly -with a thumping unopposed header and Hammers had the lead!
Interesting to observe some better link up play, more resounding defending and a slick one touch-passing routine on the edge of Newcastle’s shot that led to Soler shooting wide. Was it me or did it look as if there was a bit more understanding between the Hammers?
Amazingly Isak missed the target on 40 minutes after Newcastle’s superb pressing: West Ham certainly being challenged by the hosts but looking competent and well drilled – both full backs making important tackles in the first half. Would it last? West Ham had yet to put two 45 minute decent performances together so I was under no illusion as the second half started. Harvey Barnes on at half time looked ominous after his showing against us last time out.
Incredibly after huge early Newcastle pressure, it was West Ham who scored. Paqueta’s great work winning the ball back fed Bowen who popped the ball through to Aaron Wan Bissaka to fire across goal in in off the far post. Silence in St James’ Park. Great running from Wan-Bissaka, and a great steal and pass from a much more involved Lucas Paquetá.
Antony Gordon withdrawn at almost 70 minutes for Callum Wilson was a mini victory for the Hammers who were defending and passing the ball well, unlike so many games before.However Mavropanos, on for Todibo, got caught out horribly on the wrong side of Wilson and was lucky not to concede s penalty for wrapping his arm around his opponent and stopping him jumping.
Noticeable even after 80 plus minutes, West Ham”s back line four held a very high defensive line, refusing to be pushed back towards their own goal in a much more cohesive defensive plan: This caught Newcastle out a couple of times. Changes for West Ham brought on Irving and Rodriguez for the last five minutes. The ole’s were ringing out at Hammers kept the ball and teased their opponents in mature game management style that had looked an impossibility a couple of weeks ago.
Six minutes of added time and I wasn’t’ worried. My First Thoughts? Somebody gave Lucas Paqueta new Duracells and he kept the commitment up right to the end. Great to see. Soucek as a defensive midfielder worked his socks off. And Aaron Wan Bissaka is immense. Credit to Lopetegui under enormous pressure. 3 points. A clean sheet. And a slightly dazed, shocked smile on a lot of Hammers’s faces!
