West Ham vs. Newcastle: Winners and Losers from Premier League Game
West Ham United claimed a first home win of the Premier League season on Monday night, beating Newcastle United 2-0 at the Boleyn Ground.
The hosts started brightly and went ahead through man of the match Dimitri Payet in the ninth minute. Newcastle dominated possession for the rest of the first half but lacked a cutting edge in the final third.
Payet then doubled West Ham's lead early in the second half, allowing the Hammers to cruise to victory.
Here, B/R selects winners and losers from the match.
Winner: Dimitri Payet
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West Ham forward Dimitri Payet was an easy choice for man of the match, having scored twice in an eye-catching performance for the hosts.
His first goal was a beauty. Latching on to a Mark Noble layoff, Payet curled a first-time shot from the edge of the box into the top corner with consummate ease. The strike combined power and placement, strength and finesse. Payet's technique was flawless, and Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul had no chance to save.
The second goal was more about Payet placing himself in the right place at the right time. Victor Moses started the scoring sequence with a blistering counter, carrying the ball from the halfway line all the way into the box. His shot cannoned off the crossbar to Payet, who had trailed the play and found himself unmarked. Staying calm, he side-footed into the net for 2-0.
Payet, 28, joined West Ham from Marseille in a summer transfer worth £10.7 million, according to the Independent. Since joining, he's scored three goals, assisted another and provided West Ham with sparkling attacking play. At £10.7 million, he's a bargain.
"Payet doesn't just create and score goals," West Ham captain Mark Noble told BBC Sport. "He works hard and plays for the team. That's why the team and players work so hard."
It's a winning combination, and with Payet playing so well, the Hammers ought to feel optimistic about the season ahead.
Losers: Steve McClaren and Newcastle
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Monday's loss left Newcastle at the bottom of the Premier League table through five games. Steve McClaren's men have scored just twice in the league, and both of those goals came in the season opener against Southampton.
With 33 games left, Newcastle and McClaren would be wrong to panic just yet. The season is long, and the Magpies have time to right the ship. But Monday won't have given fans much hope.
Despite dominating possession, Newcastle lacked the requisite quality in the final third to break down West Ham. After conceding an early goal in each half, the visitors responded with loads of possession but little in the way of convincing attacking play.
Too often when the attack sputtered, the midfield and defense were vulnerable to fast counters. The defending on both goals was poor, and McClaren's men appeared to lose interest after falling behind 2-0.
Newcastle were late to the stadium after running into heavy traffic in London, but their poor performance was down to more than that. "Just a losing culture at Newcastle," ESPN analyst Janusz Michallik tweeted during the match, and it would be hard to argue with him. Since parting ways with manager Alan Pardew last season, the Magpies have been in a downward spiral, and now Newcastle find themselves at the bottom of the table.
"Could we come away and create chances tonight? Our final ball wasn't of the quality of West Ham, which is why we lost," McClaren told Sky Sports (h/t BBC Sport). "It is in the heart and the head, and we need a reaction."
The positive part of all this is that there's nowhere to go but up. But at this time, it's hard to see that happening. McClaren and Newcastle must turn it around fast, or else relegation is a very real threat.
Winner (For the Most Part): Victor Moses
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Victor Moses made his debut for West Ham on the night, and for the most part, it was a successful outing. During his 88 minutes on the pitch, the Nigerian winger ran Newcastle ragged, sparking numerous dangerous opportunities with his searing speed and ability to run behind the defense.
But although Moses mostly impressed, he also missed two good chances to score. In the first half, Dimitri Payet carved open Newcastle with a perfectly timed pass as West Ham countered at pace. Moses fired wide from a promising position on the right.
Another miss followed in the 48th minute, when Moses led a counter of his own, carrying the ball all the way from the halfway line into Newcastle's box. The Nigerian beat Tim Krul, but his shot smacked into the crossbar. Fortunately, the ball bounced to Payet, who finished.
It would be harsh to label Moses a loser in this game simply because he missed two clear chances. Overall, he was a threat for the home side, and Newcastle struggled to deal with him for nearly 90 minutes.
Moses seems certain to succeed at West Ham, where his speed will go to good use as the Hammers hit opponents with dangerous counters. All the Nigerian needs to do is work on his finishing.
Loser: North-East Football
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Through five matches, the Premier League table is a horrifying sight for fans of north-east football.
Newcastle prop up the table with two points, a negative-five goal differential and only two goals scored.
Sunderland are second from bottom with two points, a negative-five goal differential and six goals scored.
Combined, the two sides have played 10 games and won none.
It could be a long season in the north-east.
Winner: West Ham
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In beating Newcastle, West Ham ended a puzzling run of form that had cast an unfortunate shadow over the club's start to the season.
In the first two games of their travels this season, the Hammers had beaten Premier League giants Arsenal and Liverpool. But in two matches at the Boleyn Ground, Slaven Bilic's men had lost to Leicester City and Bournemouth.
Whatever the reasons for the dip in home form, that should be a memory now. With the first home win of the season, West Ham moved up to fifth place, just one point behind Manchester United and Arsenal.
If the Hammers continue their strong start to the season, a top-half finish is certainly within their grasp. With a little luck, perhaps even more is possible.
Winner: Andy Carroll
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Andy Carroll made a late cameo appearance for West Ham, entering as a substitute for Victor Moses in the 88th minute. The English striker didn't score, but he did create a bit of danger moments after coming on, nearly latching on to a free kick lofted into Newcastle's box.
So why is Carroll a winner? Monday's match marked Carroll's first competitive action since he suffered a nasty knee injury in February.
With this first appearance out of the way, West Ham and Carroll will be hoping the striker can make a lasting, positive impact on his return.
