Eddie Howe's side are still in the running to qualify for the Champions League at the end of the season. The trip to West Ham looked like a great opportunity to pick up three important points, but now Graham Potter is in charge of the Hammers. With this coach, the London team has shown flexibility and pragmatism, which makes them an extremely difficult opponent for anyone.
The starting lineups of both teams were as expected. The Magpies had to do without Anthony Gordon, who received a red card and a three-match ban. Harvey Barnes came in on the attacking flank instead. Perhaps it was Gordon's absence that had such an impact on the visitors' attacking potential. On the other hand, Alexander Isak was in place. And before the match, the stands congratulated Michael Antonio. The West Ham striker made his first appearance at the team's arena since the terrible accident that happened a few months ago.
What about the game? Here, in fact, everything is simple. In the first minute, Tomas Soucek made a great run into the penalty area and after a mistake from Livramento received the ball in a very advantageous position, but he shot awkwardly and extremely inaccurately. The Czech simply had a killer moment, but did not score. Such a start seemed to hint that the Londoners would be active in the front, but no. From then on, the ball was mainly with Tonali and company.
The Magpies were good at keeping the ball, but not very good at creating moments. The formation of Graham Potter's team made life as uncomfortable as possible for the visitors. Lots of people behind and almost no areas for the ball to move. Here it was necessary to include individual skill, due to which they could create danger, but there was not much individual class.
“West Ham” rarely went on the attack after that moment in the first minute. That's why we saw such a boring and equal first half. The “Hammers” again started the second half actively, and again they failed to convert anything into a goal. It was a game until the first goal, you could feel the tension and nerves, especially from the “Magpies”, who were under more pressure.
Newcastle's first real dangerous moment came in the 61st minute and it wasn't even a Magpie player who struck Areola's goal. After a cross from Murphy, Kilman cut the ball into his own net, but Alphonse Areola showed miracles of reaction and managed to save such a tricky shot. For the first time in the match, Howe's team was close to a goal. Interestingly, a few moments later they created a second moment, which ended with a goal. A pass into the penalty area from Barnes and Bruno Guimaraes sent the ball into the net with his right foot. No offside and the Magpies were ahead, although they created almost nothing for almost the entire match.
Statistically, Newcastle have won 14 of the 15 matches in which Bruno Guimaraes scored. And so it was this time. The Magpies calmly held on to their advantage and all the efforts and substitutions from Graham Potter did not bring the desired effect. The Hammers did not create anything sharp, and the visitors did not have to try, they scored their goal. This is a victory, thanks to which Newcastle is catching up with Manchester City in points in the league table. And West Ham remains at the bottom of the table, they have the same number of points as Everton. They are far from the relegation zone, so it is not a big deal.
EPL, 28th round
Stadium: London Stadium (London)
Referee: Michael Salisbury (England)
West Ham – Newcastle 0:1
Goal: Guimaraes (63)
West Ham: Areola – Todibo (Mavropanos 65), Kilman, Cresswell (Ferguson 69) – Wan-Bissaka, Soucek (Paqueta 65), Ward-Prowse (Ings 84), Alvarez (Soler 65), Scarles – Bowen, Kudus
Newcastle: Pope – Trippier, Sher, Byrne, Livramento – Guimaraes (Longstaff 88), Tonali, Joelinton – Murphy, Isak (Wilson 79), Barnes (Willock 79)
Warnings: Bern (84)
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