Tomas Soucek and Aaron Wan-Bissaka Shine

Tomas Soucek and Aaron Wan-Bissaka delivered crucial goals as West Ham claimed a vital 2-0 win over Newcastle reducing pressure on manager Julen Lopetegui. The victory lifts the Hammers six points clear of relegation and up to 14th, potentially marking a turning point for the Spanish coach after his difficult start to the season. Tomas Soucek scored the opener in the first half, heading home from a corner. Wan-Bissaka secured the crucial second goal early in the second half, driving a shot that deflected in off the post.

Newcastle created opportunities to equalize with Anthony Gordon firing straight at Lukasz Fabianski after Jean-Clair Todibo’s poor clearance and Alexander Isak blasting a chance wide from Bruno Guimaraes’ cross. However, West Ham defended resolutely and attacked sharply on the counter demonstrating glimpses of the offensive style Lopetegui aims to implement.

This result holds particular significance considering Newcastle’s recent strong performances which included victories over Arsenal, Chelsea and Nottingham Forest. Despite dominating early, the Magpies struggled to respond after conceding and left themselves exposed to West Ham’s clinical counters. Eddie Howe’s side, now 10th and four points off the top four looks to regroup when they face Crystal Palace.

Lopetegui gains a morale boost from this win as he works to build momentum following a tough start marked by weak performances and a lack of goals. With a challenging match against Arsenal on the horizon, Lopetegui and his team must maintain their improved form to climb further up the table. For Newcastle, this defeat disrupts their winning streak but offers a chance to refocus ahead of their next game.