West Ham 3-1 Newcastle: Report, result and goals as Nuno gets priceless first win in charge

West Ham got a much-needed victory for the first time under Nuno Espirito Santo by beating Newcastle 3-1.

The Hammers looked to be in for a long afternoon when Jacob Murphy opened the scoring after four minutes but Lucas Paqueta and a Sven Botman own goal in the first half but the hosts in front before Tomas Soucek rounded off the victory in stoppage time.

A first victory since August, and the first at home since February, sees the Irons climb above Nottingham Forest into 18th and leaves them three points from safety. Newcastle, meanwhile, stay in the bottom half after a fourth Premier League defeat of the campaign.

West Ham make frantic first half count

West Ham almost made the perfect start when Jarrod Bowen rattled the post from long range but a matter of seconds later, it was the away team who were celebrating when Murphy found the bottom corner.

The Magpies winger was allowed far too much space as turned Malick Diouf inside and out before arrowing an effort into the bottom left corner.

Despite the goal, Nuno would have been encouraged by the start his side made and they thought they had the perfect chance to equalise when referee Robert Jones pointed to the spot after Bowen was brought down in the box by Malick Thiaw.

But after an on-pitch review, Jones rescinded the decision to award a spot-kick after correctly deciding Thiaw touched the ball when bringing the West Ham captain down.

West Ham’s dominance of proceedings was finally rewarded when a Crysencio Summerville was punched clear by Nick Pope before the Newcastle keeper was beaten fron 25 yards by a wonderful left-footed strike by Paqueta.

And for the first time in a long time, the hosts went into half-time celebrating a deserved lead when the positive Aaron Wan-Bissaka broke through down the right again before his cross was diverted into the net by Newcastle defender Botman.

After the break, West Ham thought they had extended their lead when Freddie Potts swept home for what would have been a goal on his first Premier League start but Tomas Soucek was found to have been offisde in the build-up.

In truth, it was only the hosts who looked more likely to score though with Newcastle struggling to put together many chances of note and, despite some nervy moments, West Ham were set to see the game out for a first home win since beating relegated Leicester City in February.

And that was finally confirmed when a break upfield saw Soucek bundle the ball in after Pope couldn’t fully keep out Bowen’s attempt to spark huge relief and jubilation around the stadium.