Substitute Harvey Barnes netted two late goals to secure Newcastle a victory in a seven-goal thriller against West Ham at St James’ Park.
Newcastle got off to an ideal start as Anthony Gordon earned a penalty just three minutes into the game, which Alexander Isak converted from 12 yards following a lengthy VAR review.
However, the game began slipping away from the Magpies as West Ham netted three consecutive goals. Michail Antonio leveled the score for the Hammers before Mohammed Kudus and Jarrod Bowen found the net on either side of halftime.
Isak secured his second penalty of the match after Gordon was once again fouled, while Harvey Barnes equalized in the 83rd minute.
With momentum and strong support from the St James’ Park crowd, Newcastle pressed forward, and Barnes scored a decisive winner in the 90th minute.
The drama continued into injury time as Newcastle was reduced to 10 men when Gordon received a second yellow card for dissent. Despite this setback, they held on for a crucial victory in their quest for European qualification.
Newcastle now sits in eighth place, just one point behind seventh-placed West Ham.
Barnes boosts European hopes
Before kick-off, Eddie Howe emphasized the significance of Newcastle starting positively following the international break, with 10 games left to salvage something from what has been a disappointing season.
The match proved to be an emotional rollercoaster for the Newcastle supporters, but ultimately, it could mark a pivotal moment in their campaign.
Although there was little doubt that top-scorer Isak would convert his penalty to give them an early lead, Newcastle encountered difficulties when Jamaal Lascelles was forced off due to injury shortly after.
With Emil Krafth replacing him and the defensive lineup reshuffled, Newcastle appeared disjointed, allowing Antonio to find the equalizer for West Ham.
As Kudus and Bowen extended West Ham’s lead to two goals, the atmosphere at St James’ Park became tense. However, Newcastle’s players maintained their belief and fought to get back into the game.
Isak narrowed the deficit with his second penalty, taking his Premier League season tally to 14 goals. However, the decision to award the penalty seemed controversial, with Kalvin Phillips penalized for a challenge on Gordon as he attempted to clear the ball.
Referee Rob Jones initially did not award the penalty but changed his decision after reviewing the incident on the pitchside monitor.
Newcastle, who have been plagued by injuries throughout the season, suffered further setbacks as Krafth and Miguel Almiron were forced off during the second half.
However, Barnes, returning from a two-game injury absence, dramatically changed the course of the game with two goals in the final 10 minutes of regulation time.
Gordon’s injury-time red card for dissent made it more challenging for Newcastle to hold on to their lead, and the winger will now miss the upcoming match against his former club Everton on Tuesday.
With European football potentially up for grabs for the top eight teams in the Premier League, Newcastle has ensured that they remain firmly in contention.
Defensive woes for West Ham
Despite conceding early in the match, West Ham appeared to be in control and on track to solidify their position in the race for European qualification while dampening the aspirations of their opponents.
Antonio’s equalizing goal, his second in as many games, provided the impetus for West Ham to assert themselves. Subsequently, goals from Kudus and Bowen extended their lead as they sought to secure their first victory against Newcastle since August 2021.
However, the defensive vulnerabilities of David Moyes’ side were once again evident, continuing a recurring theme for them this season.
West Ham has now conceded 54 goals this season, with only Luton (60), Burnley (63), and Sheffield United (74) conceding more.
The Hammers are now winless in their last three games, having drawn against Burnley and Aston Villa. Furthermore, their away form in the league has been lackluster since the start of the year, with just one win, three losses, and one draw.