Match ends, Newcastle United 3, West Ham United 2.
Newcastle took a big step towards securing their Premier League status with a dramatic win against 10-man West Ham.
Issa Diop's own goal and a Joelinton tap-in had put the hosts in a commanding position at the break.
However, West Ham, who had Craig Dawson sent off for two first-half bookings, drew level from a Diop header and a Jesse Lingard penalty that was awarded after a VAR review.
But with the visitors seemingly on top, Newcastle had the final say, substitute Joe Willock heading an important winning goal that lifts Steve Bruce's side up to 15th in the table, with a nine-point cushion to the bottom three.
West Ham remain fourth but have now played a game more than fellow Champions League hopefuls Chelsea and Liverpool, who will have the opportunity to leapfrog the Hammers before they play again.
David Moyes' side had arrived in the north-east of England looking for a third consecutive win but were ultimately punished for a sluggish first half in which they conceded twice and had Dawson sent off.
Prior to his dismissal Dawson's heavy touch saw him clatter Joelinton, allowing the impressive Allan Saint-Maximin to race clear and fire in a shot that Hammers goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski and defender Diop contrived to turn into their own goal.
Dawson, who had been booked earlier for a foul on Joelinton, received his second yellow card in the aftermath and was dismissed.
To compound matters Fabianski dropped a simple catch from a corner five minutes later to present Joelinton with a tap-in for Newcastle's second.
However, the visitors improved after the break and were unfortunate not to claim a share of the spoils in a thrilling finale.
Saint-Maximin inspires Newcastle
Steve Bruce has repeatedly claimed that Newcastle's season may have been on a different trajectory if he had been able to field Miguel Almiron, Saint-Maximin and Callum Wilson on a regular basis.
And while Wilson started on the bench against the Hammers, Almiron and Saint-Maximin were both excellent as the hosts took control of the contest.
Saint-Maximin in particular provided the thrust to Newcastle's early attacking play, beating opponents at will to create several excellent openings after cutting in from the left flank.
And it was entirely predictable that he would contribute as Newcastle made the breakthrough, accelerating away from Mark Noble, albeit benefiting from some calamitous play from Fabianski and Diop in the process.
Having just returned to full fitness Newcastle's biggest concern will be that the Frenchman hobbled off after 64 minutes.
In his absence they retreated further and further into their own half, handing West Ham the ascendancy before securing back-to-back league wins for only the second time this season.
Moyes influences Hammers show of character
In the build-up to this encounter Bruce had suggested that Moyes' accomplishments this season were worthy of the manager of the year award.
And when Lingard levelled matters after home defender Ciaran Clark had been penalised for a handball his claim appeared to be gaining yet more weight.
The Scot has set West Ham on course for their best Premier League finish ever and whatever he said at the interval clearly inspired a side that had toiled during the first period.
Making light of their numerical disadvantage, they displayed excellent character and on another day might have come away with an unlikely point.
Jarrod Bowen, Lingard and Vladimir Coufal all had good sights at goal before Diop headed in to give them further impetus.
And when on-loan Manchester United midfielder Lingard registered his seventh goal in as many games for the Hammers, it seemed as though there would be some reward for their second-half dominance.
Moyes will now hope they can carry that level of performance forward to next Saturday's potentially pivotal fixture against Chelsea in the race for a top-four spot.
'There always seems to be a drama' - what they said
Newcastle manager Steve Bruce, speaking to BBC Sport: "I couldn't be more pleased with the way we played first half. We had threat, were dangerous every time, we got men forward.
"All of the stuff in the first half, we didn't do in the second. It is understandable, you go too deep and we made it comfortable for West Ham.
"I had seen the referee running over to have a look and I couldn't understand why. By all accounts it is a penalty. If it is we have to accept it. We tried to change instantly and put two strikers up the pitch. It has paid off.
"It was terrific from Saint-Maximin - it is important that he stays well. He has a badly swollen ankle. He is a very very good player."
On being safe? "I can't say that. With this club there is always a sting in the tail. There is no disputing it has been a difficult last few weeks but we have lost one of our last seven games and are starting to show that bit of consistency."
West Ham manager David Moyes, speaking to BBC Sport: "It was costly mistakes that can happen in football. We weren't playing badly - a couple of big mistakes gave Newcastle a leg up. We showed great character in the second half, the sad part was the last 10 minutes.
"Maybe when it went 2-2 they had no choice but to come out and do something else. At 2-2 I was hoping we would be able to see it out. I thought we played well - we made individual mistakes, got a sending off. It wasn't because we played badly."
Newcastle reach goals landmark
- Newcastle became the eighth side to hit the 800-goal milestone at home in the Premier League (801 goals).
- West Ham lost for the first time in their 23 Premier League encounters with teams in the bottom half of the table since David Moyes returned to the club (W14 D8).
- Newcastle enjoyed their fifth Premier League double over West Ham (also 1993-94, 1994-95, 2010-11 and 2017-18), something they've done as many times in the competition only against Spurs.
- West Ham have scored four own-goals in the Premier League this season, more than any other side and the Hammers' joint-most ever in a single campaign in the competition (also four in 2000-01).
- West Ham's Craig Dawson was sent off for the first time ever in his 345th appearance in English league football.
- The two occasions in the Premier League this season to see a player score at both ends have come courtesy of West Ham - Issa Diop v Newcastle and Tomas Soucek v Arsenal in March.
- West Ham's Jesse Lingard has posted his best-ever goal tally in a single Premier League season (nine goals in 10 games).
- Joe Willock has scored three goals in nine Premier League appearances for Newcastle after netting just one in 40 for Arsenal.
What's next?
Newcastle travel to Anfield to face Liverpool in their next Premier League fixture on Saturday, 24 April (12:30 BST).
West Ham host Chelsea later the same day also in the Premier League (17:30 BST).
Player of the match
Saint-MaximinAllan Saint-Maximin
Newcastle United
Avg
- Squad number10Player nameSaint-MaximinAverage rating
8.23
- Squad number28Player nameWillockAverage rating
8.22
- Squad number24Player nameAlmirónAverage rating
7.23
- Squad number11Player nameRitchieAverage rating
7.04
- Squad number23Player nameMurphyAverage rating
6.87
- Squad number13Player nameWilsonAverage rating
6.81
- Squad number9Player nameJoelintonAverage rating
6.79
- Squad number1Player nameDubravkaAverage rating
6.62
- Squad number18Player nameFernándezAverage rating
6.55
- Squad number2Player nameClarkAverage rating
6.44
- Squad number3Player nameDummettAverage rating
6.40
- Squad number36Player nameS LongstaffAverage rating
6.37
- Squad number8Player nameShelveyAverage rating
6.13
- Squad number7Player nameCarrollAverage rating
5.93
West Ham United
Avg
- Squad number11Player nameLingardAverage rating
6.99
- Squad number5Player nameCoufalAverage rating
5.63
- Squad number28Player nameSoucekAverage rating
5.62
- Squad number20Player nameBowenAverage rating
5.57
- Squad number16Player nameNobleAverage rating
5.17
- Squad number18Player nameFornalsAverage rating
5.04
- Squad number31Player nameJohnsonAverage rating
5.04
- Squad number21Player nameOgbonnaAverage rating
5.03
- Squad number9Player nameBenrahmaAverage rating
4.70
- Squad number10Player nameLanziniAverage rating
4.64
- Squad number23Player nameDiopAverage rating
4.55
- Squad number24Player nameFredericksAverage rating
4.14
- Squad number1Player nameFabianskiAverage rating
3.99
- Squad number15Player nameDawsonAverage rating
3.40
Line-ups
Newcastle
Formation 5-3-2
- 1Dubravka
- 23MurphyBooked at 90mins
- 18Fernández
- 2Clark
- 3Dummett
- 11Ritchie
- 36S LongstaffSubstituted forWillockat 80'minutes
- 8ShelveyBooked at 16mins
- 24Almirón
- 10Saint-MaximinSubstituted forWilsonat 64'minutes
- 9JoelintonSubstituted forCarrollat 90+8'minutes
Substitutes
- 7Carroll
- 12Gayle
- 13Wilson
- 15Lewis
- 16Hendrick
- 17Krafth
- 19Manquillo
- 28Willock
- 29Gillespie
West Ham
Formation 3-4-1-2
- 1Fabianski
- 23Diop
- 15DawsonBooked at 36mins
- 21Ogbonna
- 5Coufal
- 16NobleSubstituted forBenrahmaat 75'minutes
- 28Soucek
- 31JohnsonSubstituted forFredericksat 90+5'minutes
- 18Fornals
- 20Bowen
- 11LingardSubstituted forLanziniat 87'minutes
Substitutes
- 4Balbuena
- 7Yarmolenko
- 9Benrahma
- 10Lanzini
- 14Alves
- 24Fredericks
- 25Martin
- 34Trott
- 54Coventry
- Referee:
- Kevin Friend
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home35%
- Away65%
- Shots
- Home16
- Away16
- Shots on Target
- Home8
- Away6
- Corners
- Home3
- Away8
- Fouls
- Home9
- Away7
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Newcastle United 3, West Ham United 2.
Substitution
Substitution, Newcastle United. Andy Carroll replaces Joelinton.
Substitution
Substitution, West Ham United. Ryan Fredericks replaces Ben Johnson.
Booking
Jacob Murphy (Newcastle United) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Corner, West Ham United. Conceded by Ciaran Clark.
Post update
Foul by Vladimir Coufal (West Ham United).
Post update
Matt Ritchie (Newcastle United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Callum Wilson (Newcastle United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Miguel Almirón.
Post update
Foul by Tomas Soucek (West Ham United).
Post update
Callum Wilson (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Saïd Benrahma (West Ham United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Manuel Lanzini.
Substitution
Substitution, West Ham United. Manuel Lanzini replaces Jesse Lingard because of an injury.
Post update
Foul by Pablo Fornals (West Ham United).
Post update
Callum Wilson (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Goal!
Goal! Newcastle United 3, West Ham United 2. Joseph Willock (Newcastle United) header from the centre of the box to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by Matt Ritchie with a cross.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Jacob Murphy (Newcastle United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Miguel Almirón.
Substitution
Substitution, Newcastle United. Joseph Willock replaces Sean Longstaff.
Post update
Goal! Newcastle United 2, West Ham United 2. Jesse Lingard (West Ham United) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
Post update
VAR Decision: Penalty West Ham United.
Comments
Join the conversation
Hope Toon climb up the table and in time get new ownership. Loyal supporters same as us deserve some good times too.
Hammers never gave up and showed plenty of endeavour.
Irons vs The Blues next week, we’ll be well up for the fight for top four.
COYI
We do the double over the 4th placed team in the league, yet are scrambling for our lives against relegation?
We needed these points with Liverpool, Arsenal, Leicester and Man City coming up.
I hate to think where we'd be without Saint-Maximum though, doesn't bear thinking about.
Honourable mention to Willock who has come in and done very well
Well played 10 man West Ham. Good and very bad from both teams made quite an eventful match.
Fortunate to win. Was borderline lunacy to let West Ham have free reign to attack. But we won when on balance a draw was probably more deserving - but this happens in footy.
Till the next game - its never easy😅
Brucie and Newcastle have done well in recent weeks. Well played Newcastle.
West Ham. Back to the drawing board..
You can still be top dogs in London!
After 3 defeats in a row.It does look his team do have a secret love affair with the Third Division He should change his current name to three in a row instead of six.......
Men. Table doesn’t lie over a season, west ham deserve to be where they are and will give Chelsea a good run next week!