West Ham suffer top-four blow in defeat at Newcastle

Updated: May 17, 2023, 12:07 am
Joe Willock of Newcastle United celebrates with teammates Jacob Murphy, Matt Ritchie, and Joelinton after scoring his team's third goal
Joe Willock of Newcastle United celebrates with teammates Jacob Murphy, Matt Ritchie, and Joelinton after scoring his team's third goal
Stu Forster/Getty Images

West Ham United's top-four hopes were dealt a big blow as Joe Willock's late header earned Newcastle United a 3-2 win in a see-saw clash on Saturday - a result that put the hosts within sight of Premier League safety.

The London club capitulated in the first half with an Issa Diop own goal and a Lukasz Fabianski blunder that allowed Joelinton to give Newcastle a 2-0 lead at the interval, while West Ham also had Craig Dawson sent off.

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But the second half saw the London side produce a stunning revival.

Diop scored at the right end to give West Ham hope in the 73rd minute, and Jesse Lingard then converted a penalty to make it 2-2 with little under 10 minutes remaining.

But there was a final cruel twist for the visitors as Newcastle substitute Joe Willock headed home a late winner.

West Ham could not respond again, and they remain in fourth place with 55 points from 32 games, one point above Chelsea who have a game in hand.

Newcastle moved nine points clear of third-from-bottom Fulham.