Newcastle 1-1 West Ham: Player ratings as Magpies held at home
By Tom Gott
Newcastle's impressive home defence was breached on Saturday as West Ham secured a well-deserved 1-1 draw.
Callum Wilson opened the scoring after a few minutes but West Ham drew level through the outstanding Lucas Paqueta, with a draw perhaps the fair result after an even, entertaining affair.
Joe Willock had the ball in the back of the net inside the first minute but VAR noticed that ball had just crossed the byline before Miguel Almiron's cross and correctly ruled it out.
However, their strike just moments later was as clear as day. Sean Longstaff's pass found Wilson, who burst through the defence and slotted home to put Newcastle 1-0 ahead after just two minutes.
Things calmed down slightly after that but Fabian Schar nearly had a second as he beat Lukasz Fabianski to the ball but couldn't steer his dinked effort in between the posts.
West Ham's response to the goal was solid and Said Benrahma should have done far better with a chance shortly before the half-hour mark, but he blazed his effort high and wide when he should have at least asked a question of Nick Pope.
Paqueta fired into a crowd from range but, just moments later, the Brazilian bundled home from a corner to net a thoroughly deserved equaliser.
After the break, Newcastle came out hot again and Allan Saint-Maximin wasn't far off finding the go-ahead goal with a fierce volley that needed a smart block from Vladimir Coufal.
Debutant Anthony Gordon fed Wilson through on goal but a glorious challenge from the excellent Nayef Aguerd somehow stopped a shot from getting off.
Wilson then leapt highest to meet a Kieran Trippier free-kick, but he sent his effort right at the grateful Fabianski.
Newcastle player ratings (4-3-3)
GK: Nick Pope - 6/10 - Saw his clean sheet streak ended by a clever finish from Paqueta.
RB: Kieran Trippier - 6/10 - Poor defending for West Ham's equaliser and didn't offer enough going forwards in the first half. Found some renewed energy after the break.
CB: Fabian Schar - 5/10 - Sloppy passing gifted West Ham far too many opportunities. Didn't look his composed self.
CB: Sven Botman - 7/10 - One of the standout performers of the first half, Botman had plenty of work to do to deal with West Ham's pressure, and he did pretty well.
LB: Dan Burn - 5/10 - Surprisingly timid in the air and struggled in attack, although Saint-Maximin did him no favours.
DM: Sean Longstaff - 6/10 - Really lively. Some poor moments but plenty of positives, including the assist for Newcastle's opener.
CM: Joe Willock - 4/10 - Gave the ball away far too often as Newcastle were completely outrun in midfield in the first half. Only downhill after his ruled-out goal.
CM: Joelinton - 6/10 - Offered some much-needed control when he moved central. His work ethic was excellent, although he ruined it by diving to try and win a penalty.
RW: Miguel Almiron - 5/10 - Another really quiet performance for the most part. Had a handful of decent moments but failed to make an impact.
ST: Callum Wilson - 6/10 - Took his early goal well but drifted in and out of the game after that. Should have scored after the break.
LW: Allan Saint-Maximin - 5/10 - His limited game time was clear to see here. Looked lethargic and out of ideas early on, but did at least offer a little something after the break.
Substitutes
Anthony Gordon (69' for Saint-Maximin) - 6/10 - A nice threat in his short spell on the pitch.
Jacob Murphy (81' for Almiron) - N/A
Elliott Anderson (81' for Willock) - N/A
Manager
Eddie Howe - 5/10 - Couldn't seem to figure out a way to preserve Newcastle's high standards without the suspended Bruno Guimaraes.
West Ham player ratings (3-4-2-1)
GK: Lukasz Fabianski - 6/10 - Couldn't do much about the opening flurry but sorted himself out pretty well.
CB: Thilo Kehrer - 6/10 - Switched off for the opening goal but calmed himself down after that and made a nice impact with his passing.
CB: Angelo Ogbonna - 6/10 - A nice battle with Wilson. Won some and lost some.
CB: Nayef Aguerd - 8/10 - Impressive at the back and dangerous with the ball at his feet. A really impressive showing. An unreal tackle to deny Wilson in the second half.
RM: Vladimir Coufal - 7/10 - Hounded Saint-Maximin and Burn with real energy and desire. Flew up and down the pitch, looking like the player who first joined the Hammers.
CM: Lucas Paqueta - 8/10 - Excellent energy and movement. Ran the show in midfield and stole it with an acrobatic celebration that had fans wincing at an awkward landing.
CM: Declan Rice - 8/10 - His physicality was far too much for Newcastle, who couldn't match his tempo-setting intelligence either.
LM: Emerson - 7/10 - Nice link-up with Aguerd down the left. Ensured Trippier couldn't really get going.
AM: Jarrod Bowen - 6/10 - Some nice energetic moments but couldn't always get through Newcastle's back line.
AM: Said Benrahma - 5/10 - A little wasteful in front of goal. Seems to be far happier as an impact player off the bench.
ST: Michail Antonio - 5/10 - Struggled to really get involved. Botman kept him fairly quiet throughout.
Substitutes
Ben Johnson (46' for Kehrer) - 6/10 - A solid showing in the second half.
Tomas Soucek (74' for Paqueta) - 5/10 - A big drop-off from Paqueta.
Pablo Fornals (74' for Benrahma) - 5/10 - Didn't offer a whole lot either.
Danny Ings (80' for Antonio) - N/A
Flynn Downes (90' for Coufal) - N/A
Manager
David Moyes - 7/10 - Didn't panic after the early goal and urged West Ham back into the game. Perhaps unlucky not to get more than a point.