Hammers end the Magpies’ victory run

WEST Ham climbed above Newcastle and to within a point of the Champions League places with an industrious, if unspectacular, victory that will be particularly satisfying for Sam Allardyce, given that it came when the team was without Alex Song, Diafra Sakho and Enner Valencia.

“I think it’s a massive victory for us today,” he said. “They are on a fantastic run of victories, even better than Chelsea. We’ve started off with three points in what could be a massive week.”

The result saw the end of Newcastle’s run of six victories and Alan Pardew was unable to hide his frustration at the way it fizzled out. “It’s one of those things that you don’t want to come to an end,” said Pardew.

“Everybody’s come to the plate and delivered but we just came up short today. The goal was disappointing because we defended absolutely superbly,” he added.

The Hammers had to be disciplined and patient before they were eventually rewarded with a touch of fortune.

Cheikhou Kouyate’s miscued shot ran perfectly into the path of onrushing left back Aaron Cresswell, who duly hit the ball into the bottom-right corner.

It was the first goal of his Hammers’ career. “I have to give Aaron Cresswell a huge amount of praise for the quality of his finish,” said Allardyce.

Little happened on the main stage or in the wings, where Pardew and Allardyce remained calm and rarely animated. Pardew even exchanged a perfunctory slap of the hand with Sissoko as he walked off after receiving a red card for picking up two bookings in a minute.

Both sides were ponderous in possession, but Newcastle possessed the greater pace on the break. — ©