Newcastle 2-4 West Ham: Hammers stage fightback to win thriller

West Ham United twice came from behind to get their Premier League campaign off to the ideal start by beating Newcastle United in a hugely entertaining match at St James' Park.

The Hammers trailed 2-1 at half time but staged a remarkable fightback after the break with goals from Said Benrahma, Tomas Soucek and Michail Antonio.

Callum Wilson put Newcastle ahead after just five minutes, heading home Allan Saint-Maximin's cross to delight the 50,000 vocal fans in the stadium.

West Ham equalised midway through the half after a VAR review ruled Aaron Cresswell's cross-shot had gone all the way into the net untouched, despite the flag initially going up against Jarrod Bowen for offside.

Newcastle regained the lead just before the break when Jacob Murphy nodded in Matt Ritchie's cross but West Ham levelled again soon after the restart as Benrahma headed in.

After Pablo Fornals was adjudged to have been fouled by Murphy inside the box, Antonio saw his penalty kept out by debutant keeper Freddie Woodman but Soucek reacted quickest to the rebound to put the Hammers ahead for the first time.

Antonio then wrapped up the win, driving in a thunderous shot for his 47th Premier League goal for the Hammers, equalling Paolo di Canio's record in the competition for the club.

Hammers show fight but defensive worry for Newcastle

West Ham missed out on a top-four finish by two points last season but this was the ideal result and performance to show they could fight for Champions League qualification again this season.

While the defending for the two goals they conceded could have been better, David Moyes' side showed great spirit to overcome a vociferous home crowd and claim a convincing win.

They dominated the second half, attacking with pace and numbers in a manner that overwhelmed a Newcastle side that had no answer despite their encouraging opening 45 minutes.

There will have been some positives as well as negatives to take from the performance for Newcastle boss Steve Bruce.

Having been criticised for being overly pragmatic at times last season as his Newcastle side flirted with relegation, the attacking intent they showed in the first half will have been welcomed by Newcastle fans who applauded their side off at half time.

But their frailties remain, with as many as three of West Ham's goals down to sloppy defending - the penalty decision was arguably harsh on Murphy - and Bruce will want to address that area in order to avoid another relegation battle this season.

Line-ups

Newcastle

Formation 5-3-2

27Woodman

23Murphy17Krafth18Fernández2Clark11Ritchie

14Hayden8Shelvey24Almirón

9Wilson10Saint-Maximin

Substitutes

West Ham

Formation 4-2-3-1

1Fabianski

5Coufal15Dawson21Ogbonna3Cresswell

41Rice28Soucek

20Bowen22Benrahma8Fornals

9Antonio

Substitutes

Live Text

Match ends, Newcastle United 2, West Ham United 4.

Second Half ends, Newcastle United 2, West Ham United 4.

Substitution, West Ham United. Ben Johnson replaces Michail Antonio.

Substitution, West Ham United. Andriy Yarmolenko replaces Jarrod Bowen.

Substitution, West Ham United. Ryan Fredericks replaces Saïd Benrahma.

Attempt missed. Federico Fernández (Newcastle United) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right following a corner.

Corner, Newcastle United. Conceded by Tomas Soucek.

Attempt blocked. Matt Ritchie (Newcastle United) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Corner, Newcastle United. Conceded by Craig Dawson.

Substitution, Newcastle United. Joelinton replaces Callum Wilson.

Substitution, Newcastle United. Sean Longstaff replaces Emil Krafth.

Corner, West Ham United. Conceded by Federico Fernández.

Attempt blocked. Tomas Soucek (West Ham United) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Vladimir Coufal.

Attempt saved. Pablo Fornals (West Ham United) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Declan Rice.

Attempt missed. Ryan Fraser (Newcastle United) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.

Foul by Declan Rice (West Ham United).

Allan Saint-Maximin (Newcastle United) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Attempt missed. Callum Wilson (Newcastle United) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Jacob Murphy with a cross.

Substitution, Newcastle United. Ryan Fraser replaces Jonjo Shelvey.

Goal! Newcastle United 2, West Ham United 4. Michail Antonio (West Ham United) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Saïd Benrahma following a fast break.

Player of the match

BenrahmaSaïd Benrahma

Newcastle United

Squad number2Player nameClark

Squad number10Player nameSaint-Maximin

Squad number9Player nameWilson

Squad number27Player nameWoodman

Squad number23Player nameMurphy

Squad number24Player nameAlmirón

Squad number18Player nameFernández

Squad number11Player nameRitchie

Squad number17Player nameKrafth

Squad number14Player nameHayden

Squad number8Player nameShelvey

Squad number21Player nameFraser

Squad number36Player nameS Longstaff

Squad number7Player nameJoelinton

West Ham United

Squad number22Player nameBenrahma

Squad number9Player nameAntonio

Squad number28Player nameSoucek

Squad number41Player nameRice

Squad number20Player nameBowen

Squad number3Player nameCresswell

Squad number8Player nameFornals

Squad number5Player nameCoufal

Squad number1Player nameFabianski

Squad number21Player nameOgbonna

Squad number15Player nameDawson

Squad number7Player nameYarmolenko

Squad number24Player nameFredericks

Squad number31Player nameJohnson

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