Newcastle Utd 3 – 1 West Ham Utd

With 2 teams known for their attacking play this looked to be an entertaining match on paper and it wasn’t long before the action got underway.

The match had just kicked off when Steve Harper’s miss-hit clearance gave Newcastle an early scare. Carlton Cole with the resulting opportunity blazed wide from 10 yards out.

Almost immediately the home side were on the attack. N’Zogbia stormed down the left to provide a superb cross for Viduka at the near post, the big Australian steering his header home to make it 1-0 with only 2mins played.

Viduka really looked up for this one and was pivotal as his strength and control helped Newcastle to pin West Ham back for the opening 10mins or so. The visitors eventually had a good spell of their own but Newcastle’s defence was looking solid.

The Hammers were really taking the initiative with a quarter of the match gone, Noble’s driven effort forcing a good save from Harper on 26mins. They continually pushed and on 31mins they were deservedly level. Carlton Cole’s flick on found Ashton in a crowded penalty area for the striker to volley home from 6 yards.

West Ham continued to press forward with Etherington coming more into the game making some surging runs down the left. It was certainly against the run of play when, on 40mins, N’Zogbia again broke down the left to play a ball across the box for the onrushing Viduka to slide in for his, and Newcastle’s, second.

The second half saw Michael Owen replaced after his latest injury on 50mins by Obefeme Martins. Newcastle had the best of the opening chances with Rozenhal and Butt both having chances from outside the box.

The game was opening up on the hour with both teams taking turns to attack. Newcastle and West Ham seem very similar in their approach, preferring to get the ball down the flanks to cross for their target men. This only served to highlight both sides lack of guile in the centre of the park as neither side looked for the ball over the top despite having some pacey frontmen on display.

West Ham were really pushing for an equaliser with both Ashton and Bowyer having chances as Newcastle found it hard to maintain possession as the Hammers gradually got on top. Alderdyce, recognising this, withdrew Viduka on 73mins for (left back) Enrique.

But against the run of play , again, Newcastle got a goal on 75mins. This time Martins slid a ball along the 6 yard box for N’Zogbia to finish easily after some poor defending from West Ham.

The visitors continued to look for a goal and twice came close, on 79mins, as Ljunberg almost connected with a corner only for Camara to find the side netting when the ball came to him. From then on the Hammers looked resigned to defeat.

Martins did have a late chance on 87mins to further increase Newcastle’s lead but badly missed after rounding Green in the West Ham goal.

West Ham will feel they should’ve gotten something from this game having had the better of the play for long periods of the match only for some sloppy defending to be their comeuppance.

Man of the Match: Charles N’Zogbia – Scored one and set up 2, can’t really ask for more than that.