Nuno Espirito Santo claimed his first win as West Ham manager on Sunday as his team fought back from an early setback to defeat Newcastle United 3-1 at the London Stadium.
The Hammers, who have endured a difficult start to the season, remain in the relegation zone but closed the gap to safety to just three points, sitting behind 17th-placed Burnley, whom they face next weekend.
Newcastle took the lead early on through Jacob Murphy, who fired home a sharp finish in the fourth minute, just moments after Jarrod Bowen had struck the post at the other end. But Lucas Paqueta levelled for West Ham with a powerful long-range strike in the 35th minute before a Sven Botman own goal handed the home side the advantage before half-time.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe responded with three substitutions at the break, introducing Fabian Schar, William Osula, and Jacob Ramsey in a bid to inject energy into his side. Despite dominating possession for long spells, the visitors struggled to break down a resilient West Ham defence.
West Ham thought they had extended their lead when Freddie Potts found the back of the net, but the goal was ruled out for offside. However, their persistence paid off when Tomas Soucek sealed the victory late on, ensuring Nuno’s first win since taking over in late September following his dismissal from Nottingham Forest.
The result marked West Ham’s first home Premier League win since February, ending a long drought at the London Stadium. Newcastle, meanwhile, slipped to 13th in the table after another inconsistent display.
What you should know
Nuno Espirito Santo’s first victory as West Ham boss could mark a turning point in the club’s troubled season.
The Portuguese manager, known for his tactical discipline, will hope this spirited comeback builds confidence ahead of a crucial clash against Burnley. Newcastle’s inconsistency under Eddie Howe, however, continues to be a growing concern.
