Newcastle United player ratings: 5/10 ‘lost boy’ but ‘lively’ 7/10 in West Ham draw - gallery
Newcastle United player ratings from the 1-1 draw against West Ham United.
Newcastle United were held to a goalless draw by West Ham United at St James’ Park.
Callum Wilson opened the scoring three minutes in but Eddie Howe’s men were pegged back when Lucas Paqueta equalised half an hour later.
The draw was the Magpies’ fourth in five Premier League matches as they sit third in the table, four points above fifth-place Tottenham Hotspur.
In Bruno Guimaraes’ suspended absence, Howe recalled Allan Saint-Maximin for his first Premier League start since August as Joelinton moved back into the midfield three.
And it was a bonkers start at St James’ Park with United twice finding the net inside the opening three minutes, though only one counted.
Joe Willock’s goal after 35 seconds was ruled out after Miguel Almiron carried out the ball out of play in the build-up.
But moments later, Newcastle did get their lead when Sean Longstaff found Wilson in behind, who calmly finished to end his 10-game goal drought.
Without Guimaraes, United didn’t quite look to be functioning fully, and the Hammers found an equaliser through Paqueta on 32 minutes.
Our writer Jordan Cronin was at St James’ Park - and here are his Newcastle United player ratings:
1. Nick Pope - 6
Claimed numerous crosses. Conceded his first Premier League goal in six matches.
2. Kieran Trippier - 6
A questionable part in Paqueta’s goal, or is that unfair? Had a defensive job to do but still got forward to deliver crosses into the box.
3. Fabian Schar - 6
Uncharacteristically sloppy in possession. Produced a vital interception and came close to putting United in front, both in the first-half.
4. Sven Botman - 6
Botman’s distribution was not up to his usual standard but defensively, he was rock solid. World class bit of defending to prevent Antonio from sprinting past him in the second-half.