4 Things We Learned As Newcastle Grabbed A Massive Away Win At West Ham

4 Things We Learned As Newcastle Grabbed A Massive Away Win At West Ham
17:04, 23 Dec 2017

Newcastle won only their second away game of the season, and their first in ten, by beating West Ham 3-2 in a pulsating game at the London Stadium on Saturday. The Magpies started the game in the bottom three, but ended it above their opponents after goals from Henri Saivet, Mohamed Diame and Christian Atsu cancelled out Marco Arnautovic’s opener.

Here are four things we learnt on a great day for the Magpies.

1. Henri Saivet and Mo Diame proved themselves at the right time 

A mixture of injuries and fixture congestion forced Rafa Benitez to make a number of changes to his side once again. Saivet, one of a few forgotten men on Tyneside under the Spaniard, came into midfield for only his third Premier League appearance despite signing from Bordeaux almost two years ago. Fans will have taken a nervy glance at the team sheet, especially seeing his name beside that of an unpopular Diame, who faced his former club.

It took only six minutes for their worst fears to be realised. Arnautovic was West Ham’s chief creator in the absence of Manuel Lanzini, and with nothing on, Saivet played a pass blind straight into the Austrian’s path; with acres of space to run into, he made no mistake with an emphatic finish past Rob Elliot. Just four minutes later, though, Senegal midfielder Saivet struck a beautiful free-kick into the bottom corner, leaving Adrian scrambling. It was an effective way to remind Benitez and everyone else that he is still around. Diame rifled Newcastle into the lead in the second half, but both played with so much confidence overall.

2. David Moyes should have started Andy Carroll

The home side’s starting line-up raised eyebrows because there was no striker on the team sheet. Andy Carroll, the former Newcastle man, Diafra Sakho and Javier Hernandez were all on the bench from the start. Michail Antonio led the line alongside Arnautovic and Andre Ayew, and though Moyes’ idea was to pull the Magpies out of position, it didn’t have the desired impact. Newcastle’s defence stays in position, that is their trademark.

It wasn’t a surprise then, when West Ham began to have more joy from out wide when the likes of Arthur Masuaku and Aaron Cresswell crossed into Carroll, who came on as a substitute. The result could have been different if Carroll had started, because the pressure Newcastle were under by the end seemed unrelenting, even if they managed it very well.

3. Christian Atsu, Dwight Gayle and Matt Ritchie still Newcastle’s key men up front

It has taken Benitez a while to find his best formula in attack, but on this evidence, it remains the same as last season. Dwight Gayle has netted three goals in games the Magpies failed to win this season, against Manchester United, Chelsea and Leicester, and his linkup with Matt Ritchie meant he deserved at least one in the first half. The winger played in DeAndre Yedlin down the right-hand side, who crossed for Gayle only for the striker to crash the bar.

Newcastle played well at Arsenal and they certainly gave it a go from an early stage at the London Stadium, too. They controlled the majority of the play after Saivet equalised, keeping the ball and stepping forward whenever they got the opportunity. Gayle later played in Ritchie, who smashed the post. Newcastle’s issue has not been taking their chances during their horrendous win-less run, bit they could hardly have been more unlucky in the first half. Atsu grabbed a deserved goal in the second half, proving Newcastle have found their mojo on the counter attack again. Perhaps this could be a turning point in their season.

4. West Ham missed Mark Noble badly

Although Lanzini’s absence made the headlines before the game because of his retrospective ban for diving, Arnautovic’s performance added a spark to the Hammers’ play going forward. But Diame and Saivet were so powerful in the middle, and captain Mark Noble’s experience was really badly missed. Jamaal Lascelles, the Newcastle skipper, made a huge difference for the visitors with his vocal display, and although the Hammers did mount a mini comeback when Carroll played a part in Ayew’s goal that made it 3-2, there wasn’t enough bite in the home side’s play.

Proof West Ham really missed regular penalty taker Noble came before Ayew’s goal, when the Ghanaian spurned the opportunity of an equaliser at 2-1 by seeing his spot-kick saved by Rob Elliot.

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