A number of defensive mistakes cost West Ham in their attempt to secure Champions League football on Saturday afternoon when Newcastle scraped their way to a 3-2 victory at St. Johnstone. James’ Park.
A rather uneventful first half went into life ten minutes before the break when a mix between Issa Diop and Lukasz Fabianski saw the former bundled ball in his own goal before Craig Dawson received a second yellow card for a late foul in build-up to the goal.
IT’S TWO !!!!!!!!!!
COME IN, JOE !!!!! pic.twitter.com/VheiZM0IyB
– Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) 17 April 2021
Just five minutes later, the Magpies doubled their lead when Fabianski released a simple catch from a Newcastle corner and Joelinton was on hand to strike home.
Despite being down to ten men, West Ham dominated possession in the second half and they pulled back a goal when Diop reconciled his previous mistake to lead home Jarrod Bowen’s inch-perfect post.
The Hammers moved forward in the hunt for an equalizer and they received a penalty after Ciaran Clark handled in the area.
Jesse Lingard struck home his second afternoon from the spot, although the away team was beaten with a hammer just minutes later when substitute Joe Willock pulled home a nod to capture all three points for Newcastle.
These are the highlights of the match out of the way, now to all the important players in Newcastle and West Ham …
Ciaran Clark started in midfield Alex Pantling / Getty Images
Martin Dubravka (GK) – 5/10 – Possibly should have done better with Diop’s nod had a hand to the ball but nothing he could do about Lingard’s penalty.
Paul Dummett (CB) – 6/10 – Defended pretty well and showed good awareness of dropping deep and covering over their defensive partners when they moved out of position.
Federico Fernandez (CB) – 5/10 – Captured ball viewing in the lead up to Diop’s goal and made it possible for the Hammers man to get a completely free nod to halve the deficit.
Ciaran Clark (CB) – 5/10 – Ridiculously defensive with raising his arms in the box and giving West Ham the chance to level from the spot.
Matt Ritchie started at left back | Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA / Getty Images
Jacob Murphy (RWB) – 6/10 – A constant outlet along Newcastle to the right and linked well to Saint-Maximin on a number of occasions.
Jonjo Shelvey (CM) – 6/10 – Picked up an unnecessary booking early after a late challenge on Jarrod Bowen. Be solid if not spectacular in the middle of the pitch.
Sean Longstaff (CM) – 7/10 – Nice and neat in midfield and his passing interval was the key to getting Newcastle forwards into the game.
Matt Ritchie (LWB) – 7/10 – Tracked Vladimir Coufal as he advanced down Newcastle left and did a good defensive job on the back post as West Ham fired late posts into the box.
Allan Saint-Maximin was superb for Newcastle | David Rogers / Getty Images
Allan Saint-Maximin (RW) – 8/10 – Cut the West Ham backline into strips when he had the ball at his feet. Looked lively at the break in the second half before he seemed to limp off with an injury.
Joelinton (ST) – 7/10 – Scored in back-to-back home games for the first time since joining Newcastle. A threat during the break and used his pace well.
Miguel Almiron (LW) – 6/10 – Not as busy as Allan Saint-Maximin on the opposite side but continued to make good runs and did not neglect his defensive duties.
Callum Wilson returned to the Stu Forster / Getty Images page
Callum Wilson (ST) – 6/10
Joe Willock (CM) – 7/10 – Fantastic head to catch all three points for his side.
Andy Carroll (ST) – Not applicable
Issa Diop and Lukasz Fabianski cost West Ham the first goal of the game | Stu Forster / Getty Images
Lukasz Fabianski (GK) – 4/10 – Uncharacteristic errors that cost his side in the afternoon. Newcastle’s first may have been more Diop wrong than his but the second was definitely on the shoulders of the Polish striker.
Craig Dawson (CB) – 4/10 – Like Jonjo Shelvey, a stupid early challenge saw him booked and he picked up a second yellow card just eight minutes before half-time after another late foul.
Issa Diop (CB) – 5/10 – A disastrous piece of defense saw him put through his own net and give Newcastle the lead. Good head to hit West Ham’s initial goal in the game but not a good afternoon job.
Angelo Ogbonna (CB) – 6/10 – To say he was the best of the West Ham defenders does not give him much credit at all. Some early interceptions when Newcastle came in behind Hammer’s backline.
Mark Noble looks to track down Allan Saint-Maximin | David Rogers / Getty Images
Vladimir Coufal (RWB) – 7/10 – He did his best to pull the ten-man West Ham up on the pitch in the second and was the catalyst for most of the attacks that the visitors started.
Tomas Soucek (CM) – 6/10 – Did not have the kind of influence on the game we have come to expect from him but was still combative.
Mark Noble (CM) – 6/10 – Probably still feeling dizzy after Saint-Maximin turned him inside out in the build-up to Newcastle’s first goal. Kept things ticking over and showed a good range of passes.
Ben Johnson (LWB) – 5/10 – Showed a real lack of calm and quality with his deliveries when the Hammers came out in Newcastle’s half.
Jarrod Bowen carries West Ham threat DAVE ROGERS / Getty Images
Pablo Fornals (RW) – 6/10 – A really good work frequency and played a number of smart through-balls when Coufal made overlapping runs.
Jarrod Bowen (ST) – 6/10 – Can not play the role that Michail Antonio does for the Hammers but he did well to let go deeply and connect games with the midfield. Fantastic cross to find Diop who gave his side a lifeline in the game.
Jesse Lingard (LW) – 7/10 – The Manchester United borrower was the brightest in Hammer’s front line as they tried to retreat to the competition and he struck home his second afternoon from the spot.
Said Benrahma came in during the second half | Alex Pantling / Getty Images
Sa Benrahma (LW) – 6/10
Manuel Lanzini (ST) – N / A
Ryan Fredericks (RB) – N / A
