West Ham 2-3 Newcastle: Magnificent Mags earn monumental win to give us all a Merry Christmas
I've barely got a fingernail left, but it feels like Christmas came early! A long overdue win after 8 defeats and a draw in our previous 9 and our first victory in two months! A massive moment in our season and one that could prove to be the turning point if we are still to be a Premier League team come May next year.
And what a huge win that is. Not only does it restore huge confidence and belief back into what was becoming quite a bedraggled camp, it sees us leapfrog potential relegation rivals West Ham and propels us out of the bottom 3.
At 2pm, most NUFC fans would've been left scratching their heads after seeing a midfield partnership of Mo Diame and Henri Saivet in the starting 11. It was the latter's first start under Rafa Benitez and the former had offered so so little in previous starts (all of which we'd lost).
Three hours on and not only have they been part of a monumental win, they've both got on the scoresheet!
It was a crazy game. At half time we could and should have been one or two goals up. Saivet atoned for his early error (that lead to Arnautovic's opener), scoring this superb free kick to put us level and that was followed by Gayle and Ritchie both hitting the woodwork:
https://twitter.com/BlackWhiteBarmy/status/944656455013228545
Then came the second half. Mo Diame blasted home after some good work from Atsu to give us the lead we deserved just 7 minutes after the restart. He's now scored against Hull, Wigan and West Ham for NUFC, so considering he doesn't tend to get on the scoresheet, it seems he only does against his former sides!
https://twitter.com/eurogoalGIF/status/944605627363536896
Two minutes later West Ham were handed a penalty (despite the foul coming outside of the box!) and thankfully justice was done, with Ayews' tame effort saved by Elliot.
Just five minutes later and our lead was extended. Atsu and Joselu combined well on the break, with the Spaniard cutting back for the brilliant Atsu to convert from close range.
https://twitter.com/eurogoalGIF/status/944608198648127493
I hoped this would give us the breathing space and confidence to kick on and cruise to victory, but it proved to be an unbearable last 20 minutes. Andy Carroll made a nuisance of himself in the box, allowing Andre Ayew to tap in from close range to make it 2-3.
From then on in we put bodies on the line, kept our shape and saw it out for what must be seen as our biggest three points of the season. We move up to 15th and extend our lead over West Brom and Swansea - with the former losing at Stoke and the latter left settling for a point at home to Palace.
Results elsewhere may have been mixed (Brighton won & Huddersfield got another decent away point), but it was always going to be about us today.
Rafa said yesterday that it will only take 'one win' for our confidence to be 'back', believing it would see us return to the sort of side we saw earlier in the season.
It was a team effort but a few deserve special mentions.
Saivet - He's done the exact opposite of what most modern players would have done in his situation. Banished to the reserves and barely ever given a chance by Benitez, but determined to make something of his NUFC career, he's trained, worked hard and remained patient that his chance would come. Today he got it and he took it. A huge effort from him and superb free kick to boot.
Diame - A big goal for him and big effort. He was sarcastically cheered off by fans in his last appearance at SJP, but he's scored a vital goal today and put himself about. Fair play.
Lascelles - He is so so important to us. Our presence at the back, our leader, motivator and key communicator in the side.
Atsu - A goal and an assist and a threat all day on the break. Had Zabaleta on toast once again.
Elliot - Recovered well from the odd nervy moment. Ayew's penalty save was comfortable but crucial and he stood strong as they flung several balls into the box late on.
An absolutely crucial win and a much needed moment for Benitez, the boys and our frustrated following after two months of very little to shout about.
It'll be a much more 'Merry Christmas' thanks to that! HWTL!
