Newcastle United 4-3 West Ham United - One of the strangest games in Premier League history

 · March 30 2024, 15:10
Newcastle United 4-3 West Ham United - One of the strangest games in Premier League history
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Newcastle United supporters got put through the wringer and felt every possible emotion as their team came from 1-3 down to win 4-3 on a crazy afternoon at St James' Park.

The game lasted over 110 minutes, there were seven goals, two penalties, a red card, at least three injuries and both managers were booked. Have I missed anything?

This game will be almost impossible to summarise in our usual bitesize style but I'll do my best, but it honestly deserves a dissertation.

The bottom line is Newcastle got the win they needed to kick off their final run in and have now closed the gap to West Ham to just one point.

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Harvey Barnes - Not all heroes wear capes, some wear a number 15

A third-minute penalty should have been a hint as to what was about to come

The game got off to a mad enough start when Newcastle were awarded a penalty in the third minute which was tucked away brilliantly by Alexander Isak but Newcastle's joy was short-lived after Jamaal Lascelles crumpled in a heap on the floor and after an attempt to carry on, eventually had to be replaced. That caused a massive rejig of the defence which caused chaos that West Ham were soon able to capitalise on with Michail Antonio springing the offside trap and finishing beyond a criminally static Martin Dubravka.

The half ended in controversial fashion with West Ham taking the lead right on the stroke of half-time after taking a clever, quick free-kick which resulted in Mohammed Kudus drilling the ball home. Fabian Schar was still on the deck after being hit in the face while committing the foul, but the ref was close enough to see that it wasn't a real head injury. Newcastle fans were furious with the referee's decision to let play continue, but let's be honest, if it was the other way around we'd be praising the quick thinking. We could go all Arsenal about it and twist about it for months even though we know it was the right decision, but it was probably the right decision. (Granted, I probably wouldn't be saying this if we'd lost!)

It didn't take West Ham long to extend their lead after the second half got underway as Jarrod Bowen scored for the Hammers in a manner very reminiscent of Antonio's first. Dubravka once again glued to his line.

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Isak gets things underway in the craziest afternoon ever

Harvey Barnes - you've just got to love him

Newcastle kept pushing despite our players dropping like flies. Substitutes having to be substituted, players clearly playing through pain, but there was a belief, a desire, a hunger that we've not seen for a long time and it just felt like we weren't done.

Former Newcastle target Kalvin Phillips was introduced and soon made an impact by fouling Anthony Gordon in the box and after a VAR review and on-field review, the referee pointed to the spot. It was a weak penalty but probably the right decision. We weren't going to complain though and Isak wasn't going to turn down the gift and buried his second penalty of the game.

That woke the Toon Army up and inspired by Harvey Barnes, who replaced substitute Miguel Almiron who went down injured, Newcastle went on to defy all expectations and all logic and no doubt a few punters bets as the former Leicester man gave the Hammers a taste of their own medicine, timing his run perfectly to go one-on-one with substitute 'keeper Lucas Fabianski before rolling it beyond him to level the score.

Barnes almost added to his tally immediately after when he went sliding in at the back post to connect with a cross but fell about an inch short, but it wasn't long before he made up for it by scoring an absolute belter of a goal on 90 minutes to give Newcastle the win.

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Was anyone else hoping the ball boy would just get up and chin him?

It was a hard watch for Newcastle fans

Despite the win there was a lot for fans to be concerned about - namely, how the chuff do we put out a full team on Tuesday when we take on Everton? Not only were there three players taken off injured, there were also a few walking wounded who could be touch-and-go for Tuesday.

Anthony Gordon got awarded Player of the Match on TNT Sport and before the graphic had even come up on the screen he was heading off the field after being given his second yellow card which means he will now miss the game against his old club on Tuesday.

It also has to be mentioned that Sean Longstaff may just be the biggest con man since Frank Abagnale Jr as he's somehow managed to pose as a Premier League football for ages now and continues to get away with it.

The party in the Toon tonight is going to be massive as the Bank Holiday weekend continues with the most amazing game ever to celebrate. Newcastle might just pull this off you know? Europe again? Why not, eh?

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