West Ham United earned their first Premier League home win of the season with a solid 3 1 comeback against Newcastle United on Sunday, marking the first victory for manager Nuno Espirito Santo.
The visitors struck early when Jacob Murphy scored in the fourth minute after West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen had hit the woodwork. The early setback briefly unsettled the Hammers but did not prevent them from mounting a determined response in front of their fans.
Despite an early VAR scare that cancelled a penalty awarded to West Ham after Bowen went down in the box, the hosts continued to push forward. The referee initially pointed to the spot but overturned the decision following a review which showed Newcastle defender Malick Thiaw made slight contact with the ball. Speaking on the incident, Nuno said the team “showed character by not letting that decision affect their mentality or energy.”
Lucas Paqueta drew West Ham level with a composed finish midway through the first half, shifting momentum in favour of the home side. The London Stadium came alive just before halftime when a cross intended for a teammate was diverted into the net by Newcastle defender Sven Botman, giving West Ham a 2 1 lead. “We knew we had to stay calm and build our way back into the game and we did that well,” Paqueta said after the match.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe responded with three halftime substitutions in an effort to change the game’s direction, introducing Jacob Ramsey, William Osula, and Fabian Schar. However, Newcastle struggled to regain control as West Ham continued to dominate play and create chances. A goal from Freddie Potts was later ruled out for offside, further adding to the drama of the encounter.
West Ham remained resilient in the second half, slowing down Newcastle’s attempts to find an equaliser while maintaining pressure upfield. Their efforts were rewarded deep into stoppage time when Tomas Soucek sealed the victory with a close range finish, sparking loud celebrations around the stadium. The result ended West Ham’s long wait for a home league win since February.
The win lifted West Ham to 18th on the Premier League table with seven points, reducing the gap behind Newcastle who remain in 13th place. Nuno expressed delight at the performance, saying the team “deserved the win” and that the result would boost their confidence moving forward. Newcastle’s early bright start faded quickly, leaving fans disappointed as their team failed to respond after the opening goal.