Match ends, West Ham United 1, Newcastle United 1.
Newcastle continued their impressive resurgence under Eddie Howe with a valuable draw at West Ham that edged them five points clear of the Premier League relegation zone.
Howe's side are unbeaten in the league since Christmas, despite this result bringing their recent three-game winning run to an end.
Craig Dawson headed the opener for West Ham from Aaron Cresswell's enticing free-kick after goalkeeper Martin Dubravka had earlier tipped a Jarrod Bowen effort onto the crossbar.
But the visitors capitalised on a defensive lapse on the brink of half-time when Joe Willock guided a deft finish onto the far post and watched it creep narrowly over the line.
Newcastle remain 17th but are now five points clear of Norwich, while West Ham missed the chance to return to a Champions League place and stay fifth.
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Newcastle cope without injured stars
Howe only picked up one win in his first eight games as Newcastle boss, but has collected three from five league games since the turn of the year to move the club clear of the drop zone.
This draw came despite the loss of Kieran Trippier, who has had an immediate impact at St James' Park since his arrival, and electric winger Allan Saint-Maximin - arguably Howe's two most important players.
But the Magpies boss found Willock and Joelinton in impressive form, with the latter almost sneaking in at the back post early on during a spell of nervy West Ham defending.
Despite their bright start, Newcastle looked set to enter the break a goal down, only for the usually assured Declan Rice to miscue a header into Willock's path. The 22-year-old midfielder was alert and scored his first goal of the season from a tight angle as Hammers goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski failed to scramble his shot off the line.
The former Arsenal midfielder also zipped an effort wide from distance in the pouring rain in a second half that saw both sides struggle to assert themselves, and Newcastle will no doubt be the more satisfied with a point.
Hammers' stuttering form continues
David Moyes opted to bring Kurt Zouma back in after the defender dropped out during the warm-up at Leicester last week with illness, and with his inclusion still a talking point following the furore over the video of him kicking a cat.
His early touches were booed by the visiting fans, but that was countered by a song in support from the home faithful at London Stadium, and the centre-back did not seem fazed during a physical battle with Newcastle forward Chris Wood.
Another worry for Moyes is the Hammers' stuttering form, and he must have hoped their late equaliser at Leicester would give his side renewed belief and momentum.
It was the man who rescued them a point in stoppage time at the King Power Stadium who put them ahead here after 32 minutes.
Newcastle started confidently, but when Emil Krafth fouled Michail Antonio in a dangerous position, Moyes' eyes must have lit up. His side are renowned for their threat from set-pieces, with only Liverpool and Manchester City scoring more than their 11 goals from such situations this season.
Cresswell duly delivered a superb free-kick and the diving Dawson got ahead of the Newcastle defensive line to head into the corner beyond Dubravka.
Willock's leveller sparked a reaction from the home side after the interval, but they were unable to create any meaningful chances and are one point behind fourth-placed Manchester United, having played a game more and with several sides below them having a number of games in hand.
Player of the match
WillockJoseph Willock
West Ham United
Avg
- Squad number15Player nameDawsonAverage rating
6.57
- Squad number20Player nameBowenAverage rating
6.15
- Squad number41Player nameRiceAverage rating
5.75
- Squad number3Player nameCresswellAverage rating
5.71
- Squad number1Player nameFabianskiAverage rating
5.66
- Squad number31Player nameJohnsonAverage rating
5.29
- Squad number8Player nameFornalsAverage rating
5.27
- Squad number11Player nameVlasicAverage rating
5.21
- Squad number28Player nameSoucekAverage rating
5.21
- Squad number22Player nameBenrahmaAverage rating
5.21
- Squad number9Player nameAntonioAverage rating
5.09
- Squad number24Player nameFredericksAverage rating
4.74
- Squad number4Player nameZoumaAverage rating
4.25
Newcastle United
Avg
- Squad number28Player nameWillockAverage rating
8.07
- Squad number33Player nameBurnAverage rating
7.71
- Squad number7Player nameJoelintonAverage rating
7.67
- Squad number13Player nameTargettAverage rating
7.48
- Squad number21Player nameFraserAverage rating
7.34
- Squad number8Player nameShelveyAverage rating
7.13
- Squad number5Player nameSchärAverage rating
6.97
- Squad number1Player nameDúbravkaAverage rating
6.91
- Squad number23Player nameMurphyAverage rating
6.88
- Squad number39Player nameBruno GuimarãesAverage rating
6.85
- Squad number24Player nameAlmirónAverage rating
6.41
- Squad number17Player nameKrafthAverage rating
6.34
- Squad number20Player nameWoodAverage rating
6.31
Line-ups
West Ham
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Fabianski
- 24FredericksBooked at 21minsSubstituted forJohnsonat 45'minutes
- 15Dawson
- 4Zouma
- 3Cresswell
- 28Soucek
- 41Rice
- 20BowenBooked at 90mins
- 22BenrahmaSubstituted forVlasicat 73'minutes
- 8FornalsBooked at 90mins
- 9Antonio
Substitutes
- 7Yarmolenko
- 11Vlasic
- 13Areola
- 16Noble
- 23Diop
- 31Johnson
- 33Král
- 42Alese
- 51Chesters
Newcastle
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Dúbravka
- 17KrafthBooked at 31mins
- 5Schär
- 33BurnBooked at 90mins
- 13Targett
- 28WillockSubstituted forBruno Guimarãesat 88'minutes
- 8Shelvey
- 7Joelinton
- 21FraserBooked at 76minsSubstituted forAlmirónat 79'minutes
- 20Wood
- 23Murphy
Substitutes
- 3Dummett
- 6Lascelles
- 18Fernández
- 24Almirón
- 26Darlow
- 34Gayle
- 36S Longstaff
- 39Bruno Guimarães
- 50De Bolle
- Referee:
- Chris Kavanagh
- Attendance:
- 59,949
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home47%
- Away53%
- Shots
- Home11
- Away14
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away3
- Corners
- Home3
- Away7
- Fouls
- Home3
- Away7
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, West Ham United 1, Newcastle United 1.
Booking
Dan Burn (Newcastle United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Booking
Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Offside, Newcastle United. Emil Krafth tries a through ball, but Fabian Schär is caught offside.
Post update
Corner, Newcastle United. Conceded by Craig Dawson.
Booking
Pablo Fornals (West Ham United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Miguel Almirón (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Pablo Fornals (West Ham United).
Substitution
Substitution, Newcastle United. Bruno Guimarães replaces Joseph Willock.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Pablo Fornals (West Ham United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Nikola Vlasic.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Tomas Soucek (West Ham United) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is blocked.
Substitution
Substitution, Newcastle United. Miguel Almirón replaces Ryan Fraser because of an injury.
Booking
Ryan Fraser (Newcastle United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Ryan Fraser (Newcastle United).
Post update
Nikola Vlasic (West Ham United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Joelinton (Newcastle United).
Post update
Tomas Soucek (West Ham United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Substitution
Substitution, West Ham United. Nikola Vlasic replaces Saïd Benrahma.
Post update
Corner, Newcastle United. Conceded by Ben Johnson.
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Comments
Join the conversation
Even more impressive considering Wilson, Maxi and Trippier were all out. Arguably our 3 best players this season.
Burn’s settled in quickly and Targett looks like a handy signing.
More days like this and we could still end this season in a respectable position
What a change, does anyone still think Bruce should have stayed? Lol
Woods got no change out of two big centre halfs and Joelinton continues to impress .
A bit more luck and poise in front of goal and we could have had three points.
Eddie Howe has instilled a belief and confidence into the team and the fans are buying into it.
A valuable point today.
Happier days.
The draw was probably a fair result looking at the stats.