Moyes ‘sickened’ as Shelvey draws little comfort

THERE are 282 miles between Newcastle United and West Ham United, as well as 12 points in the Premier League table, but little separates them at all really, as this entertainingly flawed draw underlined. These two blundering, bumbling institutions. Two clubs existing to survive, not to thrive.

They should both at least avoid relegation for another year, even if West Ham remain too close to the bottom three for comfort.

This was the 16th league game this season in which West Ham had taken the lead, but they failed to win yet again. They took the lead through Michail Antonio after four minutes and lost it again in the 17th when Miguel Almiron equalised, finishing off a lovely passing move by stabbing in Emil Krafth’s cross.

In the second half, Tomas Soucek regained the lead for the visitors, after Declan Rice’s header had come back off the crossbar. Newcastle, though, equalised two minutes later when Pablo Fornals ambled back into position, playing Jonjo Shelvey onside, and Newcastle passed their way through the middle of the West Ham defence.

“I was sickened because we had worked so hard to get that goal,” said

Moyes, who at least ended a run of seven straight away defeats in the Premier League. “To give it up so quickly is hard to take.

“I’m disappointed with our defending for both of their goals but I am certainly not disappointed with my players. To take a point off an in-form Newcastle has to go down as a positive result.”

Although Steve Bruce praised his players, Newcastle’s boss left nobody in any doubt as to his feelings about the stalled takeover, which enters its 15th week without a resolution.

“I’m bored and fed up with it, so let’s move on,” he said when asked if it was a distraction. I’m fed up giving the same answer over and over again.” (© Daily Telegraph, London)