West Ham ease Julen Lopetegui pressure but Newcastle win must prove just the start | OneFootball

Under-fire manager’s confusing Hammers blueprint gets much clearer in hugely impressive display at St James’ Park

How about an unlikely win at St James’ Park to ease the pressure and lift the mood? Julen Lopetegui needed results — and quickly — and his West Ham side well and truly deserved this 2-0 victory over Newcastle.

The opening three months of Lopetegui’s first campaign in charge have been a frustrating watch. So often it has been desperately unclear how he wants to set his team up, what he is asking of his players.

Not here. The East Londoners looked quite at home in the North East, enjoying a larger share of possession than their hosts. They were first to an encouragingly high percentage of second balls, and scored fine goals either side of the break to condemn Newcastle to just their second defeat at home this season.

Lopetegui, under the cosh, can feel a tad unfortunate that three points do not move his team higher than 14th, where they started the day, but more significant was the performance. It suggests there may be more cheery days like this to come.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka merits particular mention for a lung-busting performance up and down the right flank, including notching his first goal for the club by firing in off the post in the second half after a cute pass tucked into him by the ever-lively Jarrod Bowen.

Of Lopetegui’s front six, only Crysencio Summerville delivered a sub-par performance, never really getting the rub of the green. Carlos Soler was bright in midfield, Michail Antonio held the ball up tirelessly, and Tomas Soucek — who so often steps up when West Ham need him most — powered a stellar header past Nick Pope from Emerson’s corner to take the lead in the 10th minute.

Defensively, just as pleasing for Lopetegui. His side had hinted at turning a corner in that respect before the international break with a clean sheet in the 0-0 draw with Everton.

A second successive clean sheet, then — and against the firepower of Anthony Gordon, Alexander Isak and Joelinton, no less — is a real moment to savour. Wan-Bissaka, Emerson and the two centre-backs, Max Kilman and Jean-Clair Todibo, are beginning to show a real togetherness, and shut Newcastle out with countless blocks and clearances.

Behind them, Lukasz Fabianski has been thriving since Lopetegui made the call to drop Alphonse Areola. The Polish ‘keeper may be 39, but he defied his years once more as he denied Gordon from point-blank range and often leapt from his goal line decisively to punch clear.

When the full-time whistle went, there were no overblown reactions from the West Ham players. Here was a memorable and merited win, but one which needs to prove just the start.