Carlton Cole has joked West Ham knew it wasn't going to be their day at Newcastle United when Joelinton scored.

The Magpies number nine has consistently struggled for goals since becoming the club's record signing in the summer of 2019.

Steve Bruce has utilised Joelinton in a variety of roles, but is yet to settle on a consistent formula for bringing the best out of the 24-year-old.

However, the forward has now scored in his last two outings at St James' Park, following up his opener against Tottenham with the second goal against West Ham on Saturday.

It was a simple tap-in for Joelinton after Lukasz Fabianski dropped the ball on the goal-line, and it doubled the host's advantage following Issa Diop's own goal.

West Ham clawed back the two-goal deficit despite being reduced to 10 men after Craig Dawson's first-half dismissal, only for Joe Willock's late header to secure a second successive win for the Magpies.

Reflecting on the 3-2 thriller, former West Ham striker Cole compared his own experience to the struggles Joelinton is currently enduring.

The pundit believes it was "two big mistakes" which ultimately decided the match, with the latest victory extending Newcastle's cushion over the relegation zone to nine points.

Cole told talkSPORT: "Fabianski slipping up and giving Joelinton who never scores by the way... when I saw him score, I knew it's not our day.

"It's what people used to say about me. When Carlton Cole used to score, we've got no chance of winning this game! I understand it, this geezer never scores.

"I understand what it is, and it was one of those games where it was never going to go for us in the manner we wanted. There were two big mistakes, Fabianski has been brilliant for the last two or three years. He's allowed mistakes.

"Even Craig Dawson getting sent off, he's allowed one bad game because he's been brilliant since he's come in to the backline.

"We're not looking over our shoulders like Newcastle's position, we're looking up the table being disappointed we didn't kick on to get some more points to put on the pressure."