Joselu scores as Newcastle claim first win of the season against West Ham
The Hammers remain bottom after a third league defeat in a row.
Joselu marked his first start for Newcastle with a goal as Rafael Benitez was finally able to celebrate a first win of the season as they beat West Ham 3-0.
The Spanish striker converted Christian Atsu’s 36th-minute cross to lift the mood at St James’ Park and defender Ciaran Clark and substitute Aleksandar Mitrovic sent the locals among a crowd of 52,093 home happy with second-half strikes.
It was exactly was the promoted Magpies needed after weeks of claim and counter-claim on Tyneside and ahead of a hugely important final few days of the transfer window.
By contrast, Hammers boss Slaven Bilic, the subject of reports that Benitez is being lined up to replace him, left the north-east reflecting on a third successive Premier League defeat and with a deepening gloom surrounding his own club.
What they said
Tweet of the match
Star man – Mikel Merino
Jonjo Shelvey’s sending-off against Tottenham and subsequent suspension robbed Benitez of one of his most creative players but Merino proved an able deputy. The Spaniard, on loan from Borussia Dortmund, turned in a commanding individual display and provided the pass from which Atsu set up Joselu’s goal.
Moment of the match
Joselu may not have been the name on the lips of Newcastle supporters as they anticipated a summer move for a striker but he was the toast of the Toon on Saturday evening. It was he who got himself into exactly the right place to meet Atsu’s unselfish pull-back and fire his side into a deserved lead.
And breathe…
Benitez freely admits he has not been a happy man in recent weeks and his displeasure has sparked fears that there could be a parting of the ways. He may or may not get the support he craves in what remains of the transfer window – or at least a measure of it – but at least his team is now up and running in the Premier League and looking like it can compete.
Player ratings
Who’s up next?
Swansea v Newcastle (Premier League, Sunday, September 10)
West Ham v Huddersfield (Premier League, Monday, September 11)
