Premier League, St James's Park - Newcastle 2 (Perez 6, Wijnaldum 15) West Ham 1 (Jelavic 49)
Newcastle debutant Jonjo Shelvey played a part in both goals as the Magpies held on for a crucial win over West Ham.
This was the meeting of two sides with very different ambitions.
Newcastle are fighting relegation, while West Ham have their sights set
on cracking the top four, such has been their rapid improvement under Slaven Bilic.
But you'd be forgiven for thinking West Ham were the strugglers given
the way they allowed Newcastle to open them up several times in the
opening minutes.
Moments after being denied by Adrian, Ayoze Perez curled a delightful shot inside the post from 20 yards to put the home side ahead.
Newcastle continued to attack with gusto and got a deserved
second, with Shelvey playing a key role. The new recruit drilled a
wonderful 50-yard pass to Daryl Janmaat, who quickly crossed to
Georginio Wijnaldum to finish well.
Newcastle repeatedly spurned chances to add a third and West Ham
levelled soon after the break through half-time substitute Nikica
Jelavic, who pounced after a poor backpass by Chancel Mbemba.
West Ham struggled to create any further chances and Newcastle
missed a few of their own to put the game to bed, but the Magpies held
on for a vital win in the quest to avoid the drop.
KEY MOMENTS
6' - GOAL! Newcastle 1-0 West Ham: Perez
scores a superb goal! Shelvey finds Wijnaldum, who tees up Perez and he
curls in a wonderful low shot from 20 yards, moments after being denied.
15' - GOAL! Newcastle 2-0 West Ham: Wijnaldum
scores and Newcastle are flying! This goal is all about Jonjo Shelvey.
He pings an absolutely brilliant 50 yard pass out wide to Janmaat, who
crosses early for Wijnaldum to finish first time.
35' - CHANCE! Huge miss by Sissoko, who robs Ogbonna but delays his shot and Collins eventually gets back to make the block. Adrian goes crazy at his defence.
40' - SHELVEY ELBOW - Shelvey in the centre
of a controversy here. He elbows Enner Valencia off the ball, and the
striker goes down clutching his face. The referee and assistants missed
it and the referee diffuses the situation, but the FA may decide to take
retrospective action for that. Totally mindless by Shelvey.
42' - CHANCE! Kouyate denied from close range by Elliot after he made a late run into the box and fired a shot at goal. The closest West Ham have come.
49' - GOAL! Newcastle 2-1 West Ham: Jelavic
scores his first Premier League goal for almost a year. He latches onto
Mbemba's lazy back pass, takes it around Elliot and strokes into the
net, despite the best effort of Dummett on the line.
63' - CHANCE! Slick move by Newcastle as
Janmaat races down the right and whips in a superb low cross for
Mitrovic, whose deft shot is palmed away by Adrian.
65' - GREAT SAVE! Adrian tips the ball over brilliantly from Mitrovic, who thrashed the ball at goal after Wijnaldum poked it into his path.
76' - BIG MISS! Mitrovic goes clean through,
turns inside Ogbonna, but his shot is far too close to Adrian, who makes
yet another important save.
KEY STATS
All nine of Georginio Wijnaldum's Premier League goals this season have come at St James's Park.
Newcastle have only lost one of the last 13 home league meetings (W7, D5).
This was West Ham's first defeat in nine games.
TALKING POINT
Is Shelvey the man to save Newcastle's season? Eyebrows were raised when Swansea
sold a key player to a relegation rival, albeit for £12million. We saw
the best and worst of Shelvey at St James's Park, with a key role in
both Newcastle goals and a dominant overall performance in midfield. He
looked very much at home. The elbow on Valencia was needless and proof
that Shelvey still needs to mature to fulfil his potential, but if he
can then Newcastle have a player who could save their season.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Jonjo Shelvey (Newcastle): A strong debut by
the former Swansea man. Played a big part in both Newcastle goals, with
two pre-assists. His diagonal ball to pick out Janmaat for the second
was superb, and was a big influence for his new team. But will the FA
look at that elbow on Valencia?
PLAYER RATINGS
Newcastle: Elliot 8, Janmaat 7, Mbemba 6, Coloccini 8, Dummett 7, Colback 6, Shelvey 9, Sissoko 7, Wijnaldum 8, Perez 7, Mitrovic 6. Subs: Gouffran n/a, Saivet 6, Riviere n/a,
West Ham: Adrian 8, Tomkins 5, Collins 5, Ogbonna 5, Cresswell 6, Noble 6, Kouyate 6, Obiang 6, Payet 6, Valencia 6, Antonio 5. Subs: Jenkinson 6, Moses 6, Jelavic 7.
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