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Match Reports

Newcastle v West Ham – Match Report

11 years ago
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Sunday 11 November 3pm

Newcastle United 0
West Ham 1 

That seemed to be an awful long couple of hours of my life.

Newcastle went into this match having scored only six goals in five home games and never looked like they were going to break out of that miserly run.

Yes we had chances and went close but there never was a really convincing spell in the match where you thought Newcastle must end up scoring.

Players such as Ba, Krul, Santon and Ben Arfa were well up for it but some of their teammates weren’t quite up to their level of ability/determination.

I love Jonas but in Tiote’s absence he isn’t the answer in central midfield and I’m afraid neither is Anita. I felt sorry for Cabaye as he is wasted if he hasn’t got a midfield partner he can totally rely on behind/alongside him, so he can weave his magic at the sharp end.

Newcastle are looking a tired team when the onus is on them to try and create/dictate play. Six goals in the same number of home matches now tells us that this isn’t a one-off.

From the start of the season it has been clear we are short of quality in any kind of depth. Williamson is so limited as a footballer and time after time the opposition leave him unmarked and more or less force his teammates to give him the ball, then when any body goes near him we have yet another aimless punt up the field. As well as a gaping hole for another centre-back, Newcastle desperately needed another midfielder and striker to give us options.

Demba Ba regularly dropped off towards the halfway line to get a touch of the ball but you can’t expect either Ben Arfa or him to create something from there.

Cisse is really struggling in his second Premier League season and Shola isn’t going to bring you goals, while Ferguson found the step up from Europa/Capital Cup action a step too far. What options does Pardew have though? Seeing Amalfitano, Marveaux and Obertan on the bench shows the limitations the manager is working with.

Wets Ham were average but that was enough today. The more effective team in the first half they took the lead midway through it with a typical scruffy Allardyce goal, a miscued shot deflected into the goal by Nolan from around 6 yards out.

Newcastle weren’t done any favours when Jonas had to limp out of the action but you could hardly claim that changed much as before that substitution we hadn’t seen much at the Leazes End of the pitch to say the least.

Ben Arfa went close just before half-time, Demba Ba doing the same at the start of the second. Whatever formation/players we’ve put out this season we just don’t seem able to impose ourselves on the opposing team.

Today’s results see the Hammers move into sixth, two points off a top four spot, this season is in risk of slipping away as Newcastle struggle to prove they are anything but average.

Newcastle United: Krul, Simpson (Obertan 79), Williamson, Taylor, Santon, Ben Arfa, Cabaye, Gutierrez (Anita 24), Ferguson, Ba, Cisse (Shola 46)

Unused Subs: Elliot, Bigirimana, Amalfitano, Marveaux

West Ham: Jaaskelainen, O’Brien, Reid, Tomkins, McCartney (Demel 67), Benayoun (O’Neil 52), Noble, Diame, Jarvis (Maiga 34), Nolan, Carroll

Ref: Mike Dean

Crowd: 51,855 (2,700 Away Fans)

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