Newcastle United vs West Ham United. Premier League.
St James' Park, NewcastleAttendance52,199.
Report and free match highlights as Newcastle overcome the loss of three players to injury to produce fight back from 3-1 down to beat West Ham 4-3 in thriller; Harvey Barnes scored twice in final 10 minutes for Magpies at St James' Park
Saturday 30 March 2024 18:19, UK
Newcastle produced a classic Premier League comeback from 3-1 down to beat a stunned West Ham 4-3, with Harvey Barnes scoring twice late on.
The Hammers looked to have conjured up the perfect away performance when they were 3-1 up with 13 minutes to play, but Newcastle, who lost Jamaal Lascelles, Tino Livramento and Miguel Almiron to injury, scored three goals in the closing stages - Barnes netting two of them - to win a classic seven-goal encounter.
Alexander Isak got a hectic afternoon off to a fast start by netting a penalty inside six minutes after Anthony Gordon was fouled by Vladimir Coufal. West Ham responded with great quality, scoring twice courtesy of Michail Antonio and Mohammed Kudus.
Jarrod Bowen put West Ham firmly in control just after the break as Newcastle's injury problems meant a comeback looked very unlikely. However, substitute Kalvin Phillips' foul on Gordon triggered a change in momentum as Isak scored his second from the penalty spot.
West Ham were then unable to cope with the Newcastle pressure and Barnes drew the hosts level before his stunning long-range strike sealed the incredible comeback for the Toon, who had Gordon sent off in injury-time for a second booking.
Hammers boss David Moyes, who was booked as tempers frayed, was scarcely able to believe what he had seen.
The Premier League was back - with a bang.
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe said: "It was a brilliant advert for the Premier League, I think, a really good advert for the league in terms of the drama, the changes in the game and the flows in momentum."
The tone for a frenzied game was set inside four minutes when Newcastle were awarded a penalty for Coufal's clumsy challenge on Gordon. Isak had to await the outcome of a VAR check for offside against Gordon before firing home via the post.
Lascelles then hobbled off with a knee issue and Lucas Paqueta spotted a lack of pace in that area for Newcastle when picking out Antonio's run and he finished powerfully.
Bruno Guimaraes went close deep into first-half stoppage time when his curling attempt came back off the crossbar.
There was one more attack to come though in the 10 minutes of added time.
With Fabian Schar down, Paqueta was allowed to take a quick free-kick to Bowen, who fed Kudus to hammer the visitors in front. Despite the protestations from the home ranks, the goal was given.
Lukasz Fabianski replaced Alphonse Areola in goal before the restart but West Ham continued in good rhythm. It was soon 3-1 when the bubbly Kudus squared for Bowen to race from halfway and beat Martin Dubravka with a confident finish.
Livramento then limped off with an ankle issue before substitute Almiron followed him down the tunnel with a knee problem. Despite having to change plans constantly, Eddie Howe continued to be positive with his changes.
Isak and Sean Longstaff stabbed horribly wide as the home side sought a way back into the game.
West Ham gifted them that avenue when Newcastle were awarded a second penalty following a VAR check on substitute Phillips' challenge on Gordon, and Isak sent Fabianski the wrong way.
With 13 minutes left, the home fans started to believe and they were level within six minutes when Isak sent through Barnes and he netted the equaliser.
West Ham looked out of ideas and they could not cope with Newcastle's intensity.
In the final minute before added time Gordon, who was later dismissed after kicking the ball away, fed Barnes and he walloped home the winner.
West Ham boss David Moyes: "The [second] penalty kick [awarded for Phillips' foul on Gordon on 77 minutes] is a huge turning point, but I also thought we made a change because we felt as if they had got on top and missed a couple of chances.
"We tried to give ourselves another midfield player at 3-1 up and we didn't want to wait for it to get to 3-2.
"Probably that decision didn't work on the day, but more importantly I think the boy puts his foot in front of Kalvin and I don't know how he's supposed to see his leg.
"The penalty kick makes it 3-2 and we had been doing OK. We gave up a couple of chances before that which I didn't like and they had started to get some control shooting down the hill, but we had another day when very few things went for us.
"We got ourselves in front and did a lot of good things.
"We looked a real threat in our attacking play for most of the day. We just couldn't be defensively sound and, let's be fair, we've had that issue many times already this season."
When asked to provide an update on the injuries, Howe confirmed Lascelles suffered a knee injury after just 16 minutes, Livramento suffered an ankle issue and Almiron was also on the field for just 12 minutes before he went off with a knee problem.
Newcastle boss Howe said: "It's been the story of our season. Unfortunately, we were getting hit left, right and centre today. We were 1-0 up, and then Jamaal goes off. Miggy goes off, Anthony is sent off, and Tino (Livramento) goes off.
"It is a catalogue, one after another, but the players we brought on made a positive impact, and that's the beauty of our squad."
Newcastle are back at St James' Park on Tuesday night as they host Everton, before travelling to Fulham next Saturday, with kick-off at 3pm.
West Ham are also in action on Tuesday as they entertain Tottenham in a London derby, before visiting Wolves next Saturday, kick-off at 3pm.
