West Ham 1-5 Newcastle: Toon batter Hammers in huge boost to top-four hopes

Another massive win for Newcastle United, as braces from Callum Wilson and Joelinton handed our top-four hopes a major boost in a 5-1 victory over the Hammers.

A superb result for Eddie Howe's high-flying Mags, our fourth straight Premier League win and the first time we've bagged five away goals in the league since 1998!

We actually struggled in periods of the first half, yet our finishing in the final third was emphatic and our second 45 devastating, as a Joelinton double and brilliant lob from Isak added to West Ham's woes in a huge game for both sides at opposite ends of the table.

The result means we stay third - ahead of Man Utd who beat Brentford 1-0 tonight - going three clear of Spurs (with one game in hand), seven ahead of Brighton and TEN above Liverpool.

Howe made two changes, bringing in Callum Wilson - who seems to always score against the Irons - and Joelinton for Joe Willock and Alexander Isak. Some doubted both calls ahead of kick-off, but it worked a treat! The latter pair have been in great form, but it was fair of Howe to protect both when Willock limped off on Sunday and the Swede was never likely to start three times in six days as he continues to build his fitness.

The home side made a fast start, as Bowen left Burn for dead and almost had his cut-back turned home after it struck Bruno and clipped the post. We eventually cleared, yet it was VERY nearly 1-0 within 60 seconds and a disastrous start at a soaking wet London Stadium.

They looked bang up for it, while we had made such a sloppy start, conceding possession too easily and struggling to get out of our own half; until our first attack forced a corner. Saint-Maximin latched onto the overhit delivery, ghosted past his man and crossed for Wilson, who fired a free header past Fabianski to score his 11th goal in 13 games against the Hammers! 1-0.

Joelinton then put the ball into the back of the net after Schar's defence-splitting through ball put the Brazilian clean through. He rounded Fabianski and rolled the ball home, only for the offside flag to follow. HOWEVER, a VAR review showed Emerson was playing the big man well onside and the goal was given! 2-0 Newcastle within 15 minutes and a dream start after what surviving that early period of pressure.

We were brimming with confidence at this point and pushing for a third, although West Ham did respond with a few openings of their own. First, Pope made a good save to tip Paqueta's left-footed free-kick wide, then Botman made a superb covering challenge to stop Antonio's point-blank shot after a brilliant burst from Rice slipped the striker in down our left. A penalty call was then waved away and Wilson almost made it 3-0 down the other end seconds later, having his attempt to round Fabianski snuffed out by the Polish goalkeeper. A frantic few minutes was then followed by an injury concern for Pope, as our No 1 required treatment for a thigh injury that kept him out of England duty last month.

The home side weren't out of this yet, showing plenty of ambition in attack, but we looked equally threatening on the break. Wilson looked bang at it, Murphy was playing with real confidence and Saint-Maximin was superb, releasing the ball at the right time and constantly getting the better of a bamboozled Kehrer.

Five minutes before the break, the Hammers halved the deficit thanks to an awful piece of goalkeeping from Pope. He completely misjudged the flight of a corner before Zouma headed into an unguarded goal after some poor marking from Botman. 2-1. Game on.

Thankfully, we got into the break ahead, yet we could've actually made it three had someone latched onto Saint-Maximin's cut-back at the back post, with his ball into a dangerous area narrowly evading two black and white shirts in the six-yard box.

It was a weird first half. Our goals were clinical and some of our play was slick, yet that was mixed in with some sloppy passing, poor touches, slack defending and silly free kicks that gifted the home side chances from set pieces. In the end, they were good value for their goal, but it was a bad one to concede and frustrating time to concede, giving the crowd something to feed off heading into the final 45.

A huge second half was needed and we made the perfect start. This time, it was some woeful defending from West Ham that gifted us a third, as Murphy robbed Aguerd and squared for Wilson. Our No 9 couldn't miss, tapping into an empty net! 3-1 less than 30 seconds into the restart and a two-goal cushion restored. Phew!

After Joelinton went into the book for another late foul, we almost scored one of our goals of the season. Longstaff picked out ASM with a stunning diagonal pass, the Frenchman enjoyed a one-two with Joelinton and slipped in Murphy, who had a left-footed effort palmed away by Fabianski. It would've been a stunning team move and we almost made it four five minutes later, as Saint-Maximin cut in from the left and saw a lovely curling effort tipped just wide by Fabianski.

A total of SEVEN changes were then made by the two sides, as we brought on Isak, Willock and Gordon for Wilson, Maxi and Murphy. For the home side, it was Coufal, Cornet, Downes and Ings who were introduced heading into the final half an hour.

West Ham weren't out of this and enjoyed a flurry of corners. Again, Pope caught himself in no man's land and was almost caught out before the referee blew for a foul. At the other end, good play from Gordon, Willock and Joelinton ended with an edge of the box effort from Bruno that went narrowly wide of Fabianski's near post.

We were managing our two-goal advantage better than we did in the first 45, seeing Hammers fans head for the exits with 10 minutes to play. In the end, it was probably the right call as we were gifted a fourth. Fabianski failed to clear Bruno's ball in behind and Isak capitalised in style, taking one touch on his chest and another to lob into an empty net! 4-1 Newcastle. Game. Set. Match.

A couple of late subs followed, seeing Matt Targett and Javier Manquillo replace Burn and Trippier, but we weren't finished there, as Joelinton scored his second. He latched onto a searching pass from Bruno, held off Zouma and slotted past Fabianski to make it five.

Next up, a trip to Brentford on Saturday in search of our FIFTH straight win. HWTL!

STARTING XI: Pope - Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn - Longstaff, Bruno, Joelinton - Murphy, Wilson, Saint-Maximin.

SUBS: Dubravka, Lascelles, Gordon, Ritchie, Targett, Isak, Manquillo, Willock, Anderson.