Hendrick on target as sorry Irons sink
NEWCASTLE new boys Callum Wilson and Jeff Hendrick both scored on debut to inflict more misery on poor West Ham.
Wilson showed the cutting edge of a £20million striker when he reacted quicker than goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski to stab home a close-range finish after 56 minutes and Ireland midfielder Hendrick will have pleased Stephen Kenny with a tidy finished that wrapped the points up late on.
West Ham did not really deserve any better although they did strike the woodwork twice and had a couple of penalty appeals denied for handball.
With Arsenal, Tottenham, Liverpool and Manchester City to play before the end of October, it already looks a miserable start to their season and watching owners David Sullivan and David Gold will be relieved the London Stadium was empty rather than have to run the gauntlet from fans.
Expectations in both camps were low before kick-off following a summer of discontent.
West Ham skipper Mark Noble went public with his ‘gutted, angry and sad’ reaction to the club selling winger Grady Diangana to West Brom, while a small group of fans protested against the owners outside the London Stadium before kick-off.
Newcastle are not in much better shape, with their owner Mike Ashley threatening legal action after the Premier League blocked his proposed sale to Saudi investors.
To add to the gloom, West Ham had not won an opening-day fixture since 2015, Newcastle in 2012.
Steve Bruce had been the busier manager in the transfer window and gave full debuts to new signings Wilson, Jamaal Lewis and Hendrick, with Ryan Fraser on the bench.
Former Hammer Andy Carroll was given a rare chance to start at his old stomping ground. West Ham boss Moyes had made only one ‘addition’, turning Tomas Soucek’s loan into a permanent deal.
Newcastle made the brighter start with Wilson heading over the bar and then flashing a shot wide.
Jonjo Shelvey, who grew up as a West Ham fan, missed a chance to make his boyhood heroes pay when he slashed at a finish from inside the box, while Carroll was always a threat in the air and went close after displaying nifty footwork ahead of a half-volley.
West Ham were more functional but could count to the better opportunities. Noble’s free-kick was headed on to the top of the cross bar by Angel Ogbonna, while Michail Antonio forced Newcastle goalkeeper Karl Darlow, playing his first Premier League game since 2018 into a save.
Pablo Fornals screamed for a penalty when Toon skipper Jamaal Lascelles deflected his shot on to the bar but VAR ruled that any handball was accidental.
Just like they had in the first half, Newcastle started the second period brighter, with Fredericks flicking the ball off Carroll’s foot as he smelt a chance from six yards.
While Moyes appears to have prioritised Burnley’s James Tarkowski as his top transfer target, it was the top end of the pitch where his side struggled most.
In contrast, Newcastle’s frontline combined well together and they full deserved the lead taken after 56 minutes.
Full-back Javier Manquillo ventured forward and his cross deflected off the outstretched boot of Fornals and looped dangerously into the penalty area.
Hendrick reacted quickest by nodding along the six-yard-box and Wilson stuck out his leg to turn the ball over the line.
Moyes responded by sending on centre-forward Sebastien Haller and Andriy Yarmolenko. Immediately, there was a goalmouth scramble which saw Haller’s cross strike Hendrick on the arm. West Ham yelled ‘penalty’ for the second time but with the Irishman’s arm by his side, it was not given.
Newcastle sealed the points when substitute Miguel Almiron squared to Hendrick and he thumped a finish from eight yards.
West Ham (4-2-3-1): Fabianski 5.5; Fredericks 6, Ogbonna 7, Diop 6, Cresswell 6; Soucek 7, Rice 6.5; Bowen 5 (Anderson 89min), Noble 5.5 (Haller 67, 6.5), Fornals 5 (Yarmolenko 67, 6); Antonio 5. subs (not used): Randolph, Johnson, Balbuena, Lanzini. Booked: Fredericks, Yarmolenko.
NeWcastle (4-4-2): Darlow 6.5: Manquillo 6.5, Lascelles 6, Fernandez 7, Lewis 6; Hendrick 7, Shelvey 6, Hayden 5.5, Saint-Maximin 7 (Joelinton 75, 6); Wilson 8 (Almiron 85), Carroll 6.5 (Longstaff 88). subs (not used): Gillespie, Krafth, Ritchie, Fraser. Booked: Hayden, Manquillo.
Referee: S Attwell (Warwickshire) 6.