Bruce resorts to finger-pointing after Antonio seals West Ham comeback
Gareth Southgate came to check on his godson, and in the process was treated to six goals, two would-be England strikers and an impressive comeback.
Steve Bruce was keen to apportion blame for Newcastle’s latest opening day no-show to referee Martin Atkinson, but his problems are much closer to home. In fairness, the manager admitted his side must shape up defensively after they were beaten by fitter opponents who grew into the contest – in stark contrast to their flagging hosts.
Twice Newcastle led, but they were unable to prevent West Ham from deservedly emerging with the spoils from a ridiculously open contest which will take some beating as the most entertaining 90 minutes at St James’ Park this season.
That will be little consolation to Bruce, whose side were 2-1 ahead at the break only to capitulate in dramatic fashion by shipping three goals in 13 minutes.
Said Benrahma headed home Michail Antonio’s cross eight minutes after the restart to restore parity for a second time. With Newcastle in a growing state of disarray, Jacob Murphy tripped Pablo Fornals in the area after Antonio’s point-blank header had come back off a post.
Premier League debutant Freddie Woodman – godson to the England head coach through his friendship with the young goalkeeper’s father, his former Crystal Palace team-mate Andy – saved Antonio’s penalty low to his left, but Newcastle’s increasing leg-weariness was belied by Tomas Soucek reacting first to thrash home the rebound. Bruce was unhappy with Atkinson’s awarding of the spot-kick, a decision upheld by Var. He said: “For me the big turning point is the penalty.
I know I’ve made a big thing of Var, but for the life of me I can’t understand why the referee who is 10 yards away can’t just come to check, because if he does then for me he thinks differently.
“That is what Var is there for. I’ve looked at it four or five times and it looks really harsh to me. Martin is 10 yards away from it, why doesn’t he go and check rather than asking someone’s opinion 300 miles away?”
It was game over when Antonio burst through to find the bottom corner from Benrahma’s pass just after the hour. Rather more pertinently than moaning about decisions, Bruce admitted: “We have to sharpen up defensively.”
Despite being named in England squads, Antonio is yet to represent the Three Lions, and has received overtures to throw in his lot with Jamaica. However, Southgate must have been impressed by an outstanding display of pace, power and calm-eyed finishing, one mirrored before the break by another England hopeful, Callum Wilson.
Newcastle’s latest No9 earned the most recent of his four caps two years ago. After scoring a goal every other game in an injury-truncated 2020-21 campaign, the 29-year-old again underlined his importance to everything his side do by heading an early near-post opener.
The visitors were level within 13 minutes when Aaron Cresswell’s angled cross found the bottom corner through a ruck of players.
Murphy restored Newcastle’s advantage as half-time approached, meeting Matt Ritchie’s inviting cross from the left with a header.
That was as good as it got for the hosts, and the way they dropped off the pace in the final half an hour will no doubt leave Bruce wondering whether his strength and conditioning minions are fit for purpose.
The worries for his opposite number, David Moyes, appear less pressing, even if the West Ham manager voiced concern at elements of his side’s display in the first half. “We gave Newcastle a bit of a leg up but we didn’t deserve to go in a goal down. We kept at it and the players who performed really well last season have started well.”
That is in contrast to Newcastle, who are without an opening-day win at home in the Premier League for nine years.