HAMMERED

RAFA Benitez feels Newcastle United were served a painful reminder of just how tough the Premier League can be following a brutal 3-0 home defeat by West Ham.

The Hammers had won just once in seven matches in all competitions before their trip to Tyneside but impressed in the rout, with a Javier Hernandez brace and Felipe Anderson strike the difference.

Asked if the defeat summed up life in the top flight, Benitez said: “Yes, I think so.

“It’s a typical Premier League game, when you have chances and you don’t take your chances and the other team with the quality that they have up front, it made the difference.

“That today.”

West Ham spent around £100million in the summer on new signings while Newcastle shelled out just £26m, and it was that quality that counted in the eyes of the Magpies boss.

Benitez – whose side suffered against the pace of Hernández and ex-Lazio star Anderson – looked vulnerable at times.

The Toon manager said: “We were a little bit open on the counter-attack with their movement and control and the pace, and you suffer.

“Still, I think we did well enough to create and then maybe to score, but we didn’t do it and the second goal, it was very difficult for us.

“After that, we were trying to do everything, but sometimes the was what happened anxiety doesn’t allow you to make the right decisions.

“In the first half, I think we had seven attempts and they had one, but also, it’s just the way that they counter-attacked with the quality, the pace and the movement that they have.

“They are very dangerous. It’s because these players more times make the right decisions, and they have done.”

Meanwhile, West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini said: “It was an important three points but it’s not enough.

“We need to recover the bad start to the season and we need to think for three points more in the next game.”