Newcastle’s toothless attack taught lesson in clinical finishing by West Ham | OneFootball

Newcastle United were taught a lesson in clinical finishing as they were beaten 2-0 by West Ham United at in the Premier League.

The Magpies went into the game hoping to keep up in the race for the top four. A win over West Ham would have lifted Newcastle up to sixth, trailing just a point outside the Champions League places.

Eddie Howe’s men went into the international break off the back of consecutive victories, and will have fancied their chances against West Ham. The Hammers had only won three of their opening 11 games, sitting 14th.

All signs pointed to a Newcastle victory and Alexander Isak getting in on the action. The Swede had scored in each of his past four games for Newcastle across all competitions as well as every match he’s played against West Ham for the Magpies.

And he’s been accurate with his finishing. Before Monday’s game, Isak had a shot accuracy of 73.33% in the Premier League this season, excluding blocks. He’s been integral to Newcastle’s attack this season, leading the line very well. But that has only converted to four goals, with a sixth Premier League blank on Monday.

It was a night to forget for both Isak and Newcastle in front of goal. Isak had six shots in total on Monday, failing to hit the target once. It’s the most shots he has had in a Premier League game without hitting the target. This, despite having an xG of 0.71, the most of any player for either side. Isak did technically hit the target once, but he saw a first-half goal ruled out for offside.

As a team, Newcastle had 18 shots in total and hit the target just twice. Their shot accuracy (excluding blocks) was 16.67% — Newcastle have only registered a worse shot accuracy twice in the Premier League under Howe. And the other two times came in his first few months in charge.

Credit should also be given to West Ham’s defending, though. Maximilian Kilman made eight clearances at the back, with Emerson, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Tomas Soucek making four. Kilman’s centre-back partner, Jean-Clair Todibo, made three. There were times Newcastle didn’t even reach the West Ham defence too, thanks to Lucas Paqueta’s seven tackles.

At the other end of the pitch, West Ham were a bit more clinical in their finishing. They opened the scoring in a way they hadn’t done before this season, netting from a set piece. It was a delightful ball into the box from Emerson Palmieri, with Soucek beating Nick Pope with a bullet header.

Soucek has now scored 30 goals in the Premier League, just the second Czech to reach the milestone after Patrik Berger (38). The first goal West Ham had scored from a corner this season and the first goal Newcastle had conceded from a corner.

In the second half, West Ham undid Newcastle with a nice move from the right. Wan-Bissaka was at the heart of the move and got onto the end of it, coolly finishing in the bottom left corner. It was Wan-Bissaka’s third goal in 183 Premier League appearances, two of which have come against Newcastle.

Jarrod Bowen was the man to set Wan-Bissaka up, his 79th direct goal involvement for West Ham in the Premier League. Only Mark Noble (82) and Michail Antonio (101) have been directly involved in more Premier League goals for the Hammers.

In total, West Ham had six shots on target, the most they’ve had in a Premier League away game since August 2023 when they managed seven against Brighton.

The win moved the Hammers six points clear of the relegation zone, while Newcastle dropped to 10th on goals scored. Their 13 goals in 12 games is currently haunting the Magpies.