West Ham produced a spirited comeback to secure their first home victory of the season, defeating Newcastle United 3-1 at the London Stadium.
Jacob Murphy opened the scoring early for the visitors, firing in from the edge of the area just moments after West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen had struck the post at the other end.
The Hammers, however, responded impressively.
Lucas Paquetá equalised with a stunning strike from outside the box before the hosts went ahead on the stroke of half-time when Sven Botman accidentally turned Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s cross into his own net.
In stoppage time, substitute Tomáš Souček sealed the win, tapping home after Nick Pope parried Bowen’s effort.
It was a result that reflected West Ham’s determination and energy, especially after seeing an early penalty overturned by VAR.
Referee Robert Jones rescinded his initial decision after reviewing footage that showed Newcastle defender Malick Thiaw had made contact with the ball before clipping Bowen inside the box.
Despite that setback, Nuno Espírito Santo’s side fought back to claim a vital three points - their first Premier League win under the new manager since his appointment in September.
The victory lifted West Ham within three points of safety, while Newcastle’s miserable away form continued, extending their winless run on the road to seven months.
West Ham’s afternoon could hardly have started worse - hitting the post, conceding moments later, and losing a penalty within 10 minutes.
But instead of collapsing, Nuno’s men showed fight and focus.
The switch to a back four, along with recalls for Freddie Potts, Mateus Fernandes and Callum Wilson, gave the Hammers better structure and energy.
The squad’s improvement reflected the benefit of recent intensive training sessions under Nuno’s guidance.
What stood out most was the team’s spirit and resilience.
After collecting just four points from their first nine matches, this performance felt like a turning point.
Despite fan protests directed at the club’s board after the game, the home supporters stayed behind to cheer their players off - recognising the fight they had shown.
With Burnley visiting next, West Ham now have a real opportunity to build on this momentum.
For Newcastle, this was another frustrating away day.
Jacob Murphy’s early strike should have given Eddie Howe’s side a platform to control the match, but they quickly lost intensity and allowed West Ham back into the contest.
Newcastle’s midfield, usually a strength, failed to dominate as misplaced passes and poor decisions repeatedly handed possession to the hosts.
Howe made a triple substitution at half-time, bringing off Emil Krafth, Anthony Gordon and Nick Woltemade, but it did little to change the flow of the game.
The Magpies never looked likely to equalise after falling behind and were punished for their lack of control and urgency.
Souček’s late goal only deepened the gloom, prompting many away fans to head for the exits early.
Newcastle’s home form has been strong, but their struggles on the road are alarming.
This was their longest winless away run in the league since 2021 - and a missed opportunity to close the gap on the top sides.
Instead of climbing towards the Champions League places, Newcastle remain stuck in 13th - their inconsistency leaving them searching for answers.
