Magpies have survival in sight thanks to super sub Joe Willock
LOANEE SEALS DRAMATIC WIN FOR UNITED
NEWCASTLE United took a major step towards Premier League safety with a huge win over Champions League chasers West Ham.
However, they opted to do it the hard way and after flying into a 2-0 lead in the first half managed to throw it away before super sub Joe Willock pounced to score a dramatic winner.
It was a moment that resulted in Steve Bruce punching the air as the on-loan Arsenal youngster pounced late on to make it two wins in a row for the head coach.
After looking dead on their knees at Brighton, Bruce and his players have got things together to pick up seven points from nine and a nine-point gap has opened up between themselves and thirdbottom Fulham.
If safety is confirmed soon, they will look back on this extraordinary game as a huge moment in a season that has had its fair share of ups and downs.
Before the kick-off the two teams observed a minute’s silence for His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
The Magpies went into the game looking to complete a Premier League double over West Ham having triumphed against the London Stadium side back in September.
United’s first real glimpse of goal came after five minutes when Miguel Almiron weaved through to pick out Sean Longstaff who steered a shot at goal but it was deflected wide of the target.
Returning star Allan Saint-maximin had an eventful first 10 minutes and caused
West Ham some big problems throughout the first half.
After being upended by Vladimir Coufal near the touchline he dusted himself down before jinking through after a fantastic turn only to see his shot blocked.
On 11 minutes, Joelinton won a freekick after he was fouled by Craig Dawson before Matt Ritchie despatched the setpiece towards Federico Fernandez with the South American’s header straight at goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.
Two minutes later Saint-maximin drove at West Ham again, but this time looked to switch play from left to right with Jacob
Murphy’s powerful effort patted down by Poland international goalie Fabianski.
Another driving run from Saint-maximin saw the French ace fire in a low shot but again West Ham got bodies in the way.
There was no surprise when Saint-maximin played a major part in Bruce’s side taking the lead on 36 minutes.
United broke into the West Ham half through Joelinton before Craig Dawson – already on a yellow card – lunged in on Joelinton.
It was always going to be a red card but referee Kevin Friend waved play on and Saint-maximin controlled the loose ball before running into the final third and hitting a low shot at goal.
With the effort looking too tame to beat Fabianski the ball skipped up and was fumbled into his own net by Issa Diop.
If West Ham were showing signs of implosion, their nervous state was exposed further four minutes before the break.
Ritchie’s corner caused Fabianski to flap at the cross and his error allowed Joelinton
to turn home a second goal to make it 2-0.
The second half started with Miguel Almiron sending a shot just wide of the post as West Ham’s 10 men tried to salvage something.
But West Ham started to improve and Jesse Lingard’s effort wasn’t far away just after the hour mark.
Bruce introduced Wilson on 63 minutes with the former AFC Bournemouth star replacing Saint-maximin.
The complexion of the game was altered when Diop atoned for his first-half error.
Jarrod Bowen’s cross was steered home by Diop and after beating the offside trap and VAR, the scoreline was reduced to 2-1.
Newcastle’s failure to stay cool threatened to let West Ham back into the game even further.
And when Ciaran Clark’s handball resulted in a VAR consultation and monitor check from ref Friend the official pointed to the spot.
Man of the moment Lingard smacked the penalty home via the woodwork and
past Dubravka to level the game at 2-2.
Bruce threw on Arsenal loanee Joe Willock with nine minutes to go as the Magpies found themselves back to square one.
Within seconds they should have been ahead when Wilson and Almiron combined but Murphy’s shot was cleared off the line by Ben Johnson.
However, with seven minutes left Ritchie’s cross picked out the substitute before he crashed a header past Fabianski and put Newcastle back in the lead.
The game was played out to a nervous conclusion as the officials added on eight minutes of stoppage time.
West Ham threw everything at the Magpies, but Newcastle should have sealed it at the end of injury time.
Sub Andy Carroll hooked the ball to Wilson and after wriggling into the box he lost his footing at the crucial moment.
But it didn’t matter as Friend blasted his whistle one last time to signal Newcastle are on the brink of Premier League safety.