West Ham United 1-1 Newcastle United: Player ratings, heroes & villains as Magpies extend unbeaten run to six

Newcastle United extended their unbeaten Premier League run to six games following a 1-1 draw at West Ham United.

And impressively, they did without Kieran Trippier and Allan Saint-Maximin - two key players from their revival in recent weeks.

Craig Dawson headed West Ham into a 32nd-minute lead when he got on the end of Aaron Cresswell’s free-kick delivery.

But United equalised in first-half stoppage time through Joe Willock - his first goal since May 23 - as he finished from a tight angle after Declan Rice’s poorly judged header.

Eddie Howe’s side sit five points above the relegation zone after 12 points from their last six matches ahead of the later kick-offs across the weekend.

Heroes

- Joe Willock: His best performance in a black and white shirt since his permament arrival in the summer. Willock looked like the Willock of the old with his surging runs from midfield and a player that seemed capable of scoring goals. And of course, that’s exactly what happened. Although Rice’s error set Willock up, take nothing away from the tight-angle finish. Was at the heart of everything good for United.

- Matt Targett: In Targett, United have signed a solid Premier League full-back, a huge upgrade on what was already in the squad despite Jamal Lewis feeling a little hard done by following his 25-man squad omission. Much like his debut, the left-back didn’t put a foot wrong. A highly dependable defender who is also strong in the final third. Interestingly, he took over the corner duties ahead of Jonjo Shelvey, Ryan Fraser and Jacob Murphy.

- Joelinton: Howe has genuinely turned Joelinton into one of the Premier League’s most in-form central midfielders, something that many fans are still struggling to understand. The turnaround in his Newcastle career has been nothing short of incredible. Losing Allan Saint-Maximin is a blow but if similar was to happen to Joelinton, that would arguably impact the team more.

Villains

- Emil Krafth: With Kieran Trippier and Javier Manquillo injured, Krafth was handed his chance to stake a claim for a regular spot in Howe’s starting XI. And based on that display, he’ll find it difficult to get in ahead of Manquillo when he’s back. Postional wise, the Sweden international was too often caught, typified when he gave the free-kick that led to West Ham’s opener.

- Kurt Zouma: Booed by the travelling Newcastle fans - and even some of the home fans - throughout the afternoon following a certain recent incident off the pitch. That alone might have affected his performance with the defender given a tough time by Chris Wood. There were several ocassions where he looked very uncomfortable.

Player ratings

West Ham: Fabianski 6, Fredericks 5 (Johnson, 45), Dawson 7, Zouma 6, Creswell 6, Soucek 6, Rice 6, Bowen 6, Benrahma 5 (Vlasic 73, 5), Fornals 6, Antonio 6. Subs not used: Areola, Yarmolenko, Noble, Diop, Kral, Alese, Chesters.

Newcastle: Dubravka 7, Krafth 6, Schar 7, Burn 7, Targett 8, Shelvey 7, Willock 8 (Guimaraes 88, N/A), Joelinton 8, Fraser 7 (Almiron 79), Murphy 7, Wood 7. Subs not used: Darlow, Dummett, Lascelles, Fernandez, Gayle, Longstaff, de Bolle.

Who do Newcastle play next?

Newcastle return to the capital next weekend (February 26) to face Brentford.

Kick-off at the Brentford Community Stadium is 3pm.