Callum Wilson kept up his phenomenal goalscoring record against West Ham United by bagging a brace in Newcastle United’s phenomenal 5-1 win at the London Stadium. It’s a result that keeps Newcastle’s top four hopes alive and kicking as Wilson made it 12 goals in 13 games against the Hammers.
They must be utterly sick of the sight of him down in east London. He introduced himself to the Premier League with a hat-trick against them for Bournemouth on one of his first top flight appearances and since then, has been on a one-man mission to destroy West Ham.
Having scored off the bench against Manchester United last time out, Eddie Howe unleashed his number nine from the start here. It proved to be the perfect decision as the hosts simply couldn't cope with him or an exciting Newcastle attack.
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His first came early on as Allan Saint-Maximin got past his man and whipped one in and Wilson found the back of the net with a wonderful header from close range. It was similar to the goal he scored last weekend as he found some space in the box and buried his header into the net.
In truth, all five goals Newcastle scored on the night highlighted the defensive frailty of West Ham. They were all over the show for the second as Joelinton was played through by Fabian Schar with one long pass, rounded Lukas Fabianski and slotted into an empty net. Initially the linesman had his flag up but a VAR check proved Emerson was keeping him well onside - and the traveling Geordies celebrated.
The only brief respite for the beleaguered home fans was a Kurt Zouma header that brought them back into the game before half-time. But it was a false dawn as just 22 seconds after the break, they shot themselves in the foot.
All the hope Moyes had at the break evaporated when Lukasz Fabianski rolled the ball to Nayef Aguerd who floundered under pressure from Jacob Murphy and the winger won the ball back, before squaring to Wilson to tap home his second. The West Ham fans, most of whom left on the 80 minute mark, might as well have saved themselves the bother tonight.
Newcastle had scored three from their opening three shots on target, but the Hammers had gift-wrapped three points for their visitors. Wilson was taken off, but it didn’t spare Moyes or West Ham. His replacement Alexander Isaka got the fourth after another Fabianski howler. The Polish keeper sprinted out to deal with a clearance but instead only played the ball to the Swedish striker, who placed one into the back of the empty net from the edge of the box.
The fifth was a decent run and finish from Joelinton, as he got his second of the night by firing one past the stricken goalkeeper. It was the icing on the cake for Newcastle, who scored five on the road in the Premier League for the first time since 1998 and remain in third with their Champions League hopes intact.
For West Ham, they have to come to terms with their heaviest home defeat for four years. They remain level on points with 18th place Bournemouth and tonight their goal difference has taken a hammering. In a season where more clubs than ever are parting with their managers, West Ham could pull the trigger on David Moyes in an attempt to rescue their season.
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