West Ham 1-1 Newcastle: Injury hit Mags dig in for well deserved draw in London
With our three best players injured and us facing a top four contender away from home, this feels like a good point for Newcastle United.
We controlled large parts of the first half, responded to Dawson's goal - which was against the run of play - with a well deserved goal from Joe Willock and then defended superbly in the second half to secure a point that leaves us unbeaten in our last SIX games.
It was a concern to see Saint-Maximin missing through injury when the teams were released and a shame to see the tireless Fraser limp off, however it is very encouraging to see how we played without so many key players.
We had more of the ball, more shots, more corners and more chances to score. That in itself means we may feel frustrated we couldn't come away with all three against a flat Hammers side who never really got going, but in the circumstances this is still a solid point and a performance that suggests we'll have more than enough to stay up.
Matt Targett was outstanding at left-back - keeping Bowen quiet all afternoon - Dan Burn a man mountain once again and Joe Willock back to his best; not only scoring but making several burst forward with the ball that we saw so often last season.
Huge credit must also go to Eddie Howe, who is not only getting the best out of this squad but giving a previously pedestrian team real identity, confidence and belief. We also look nothing like the side who were shipping goals for fun a few months ago, with this another game where Dubravka barely had a save to make.
The result takes us five clear of the relegation zone as things stand, although that could change as Norwich face Liverpool, Watford travel to Aston Villa and Burnley take on Brighton at The Amex in today's 3pm kick offs.
Eddie Howe made thee changes for this one, with Emil Krafth, Matt Targett and Jacob Murphy replacing injured trio Kieran Trippier, Javier Manquillo and Allan Saint-Maximin.
The Frenchman's absence was a late surprise and huge pre-match blow, with it revealed just a few hours before kick off that he'd no travelled and could be missing for a couple of weeks. That said, Howe didn't seem overly concerned when speaking to BT Sport before the game, suggesting it was a knock - from a few too many kicks against Villa - and not a long-term injury.
As for the game itself, the first half was both hugely promising, highly frustrating but ultimately ended in the goal we fully deserved.
To say we didn't give West Ham a kick for the first 10 minutes would be no exaggeration. We were passing the ball with confidence, showing cool heads, winning second balls and playing with the sort of belief you'd expect from a side who've won three on the bounce.
Joelinton had a close range shot blocked after a lapse from Rice, Willock had a goal-bound effort deflected over and an unmarked Fraser dragged an unmarked volley into his own player in what was an outstanding start from our perspective - just one that was lacking that all important finish!
West Ham's first glimpse of goal came after a moment of indecision from Krafth allowed a ball to work its way out to Antonio, whose shot was well blocked by Targett just moments before Bowen hit the bar from a tight angle. Dubravka got a glove to it, but it was a warning that West Ham had players with superior quality in the final third and could take the chances we were spurning if we gave them a sniff.
At the other end, Willock was in the mood, carrying the ball at speed like he did last season and getting Fredericks booked after a brilliant run down the left.
Soon after, Wood bullied Zouma - who was getting constant boos from the travelling Toon Army every time he touched the ball - and delivered a brilliant ball into the box...but no one in a Newcastle shirt gambled.
Sadly, our failure to capitalise on our impressive start was then punished. After Krafth's blatant block on Antonio, Cresswell's wicked delivery was headed in by an unmarked Dawson.
A horrid goal to concede and a real body blow given the way we'd been playing up until this point, however we dug in and got the goal we richly deserved in first half added time.
Willock had been the best player on the pitch in the first half and grabbed the goal in just 60 seconds before the break, reacting quickest to Rice's mistake and poking an improvised finish past Fabianksi and in off the post!
His first goal of the season, a thoroughly deserved equaliser and a goal his performances over the past few weeks have more than warranted. Now it was time to build on this in the final 45 - as this was clearly a game that was there to be won.
The Hammers came out of the traps quickly after the restart and could've retaken the lead if it wasn't for a strong block from Dan Burn - who got in the way of a powerful Dawson strike that looked to be heading in.
We ran out of steam from an attacking point of view in the second half. We weren't camped in our own half and accepting of a point, but we didn't cause enough problems for that West Ham defence in the second half, instead relying on a huge effort in midfield and big effort from a back four that didn't let us down in that second half.
Krafth is the clear weak link and was at fault for their goal, but Schar was solid again, Burn outstanding - bringing an air of confidence to our previously edgy back line - and Targett superb in the way he dealt with Jarrod Bowen.
Dubravka didn't have a save to make in that second half and we dug in for a decent point, with Almiron and Guimaraes coming on in the closing stages for Fraser and Willock; two players who ran themselves into the ground once again.
Here's what Howe had to say after the game:
It says a lot when we're without several key players yet frustrated to come away with just a point from a West Ham side battling to finish in the top four...
Next up, a trip to Brentford next weekend!
STARTING 11: Dubravka – Krafth, Schar, Burn, Targett – Shelvey, Willock, Joelinton – Fraser, Wood, Murphy.
SUBS: Darlow, Dummett, Lascelles, Fernandez, De Bolle, Almiron, Longstaff, Bruno G, Gayle
