Declan Rice shocked by what Newcastle United did in West Ham hammering

Declan Rice believes Newcastle United scored five of the worst goals he has seen during his time as a West Ham United player.

Eddie Howe’s side put the Hammers to the sword at the London Stadium by winning 5-1 after a brace from Callum Wilson and Joelinton, plus a goal from sub Alexander Isak.

Wilson opened the scoring in the sixth minute after heading home Allan Saint-Maximin’s cross. Joelinton quickly made it 2-0 after being played onside by Emerson Palmieri .

The home side pulled one back before half-time through Kurt Zouma but United put the game to bed 30 seconds after the break after Wilson took full advantage of Nayef Aguerd’s error.

A mistake from goalkeeper Lukas Fabianski then allowed Isak to loop the ball into an empty. Joelinton added a fifth in the closing stages.

Rice, speaking to Sky Sports, was shocked by his side’s defending, which leaves the East London outfit outside the Premier League relegation zone only goal difference.

“It’s a really tough one to take. They were five goals you can’t concede at any level,” said the England midfielder.

“Today was a weird one. At 2-0 down we felt the fans behind us, at half-time there was real belief. But the goal at the start of the second half killed things off.

“When you’re at home and you’ve got fans behind you, you want to affect the game, and I can’t fault the lads’ effort. But since I’ve been playing for West Ham we have not conceded five worse goals as a team.”

Thousands of West Ham fans left the stadium after Isak made it 4-1, and not many stayed to see Joelinton’s fifth.

“My focus is on game, but if I was a fan I wouldn’t be happy,” admitted Rice. “They want to see us do well, and we haven’t this season. But I have a lot of positive interactions with fans. I think we will be fine, we are ready for this battle.

“Fans voice their opinions, they want to see results and performances. It is tough, you have to block out the noise, as captain I have to keep the boys on it.

“I’ve been down in a relegation fight at West Ham before and there has been negativity, but there is not that with this group of boys.”

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