Gouffran misses late sitter in Newcastle-West Ham stalemate

West Ham picked up a useful point on the road in a 0-0 draw at Newcastle, though the hosts really should have won it late on.

Yoan Gouffran, who came on for the final 20 minutes of an average contest from the bench, somehow failed to tap the winner into an open goal after fellow sub Sammy Ameobi's cross dropped into the inside of the far post.

Alan Pardew, facing the club he led to the FA Cup final in 2006, saw his troops battle to take the midfield back from the visitors after being stifled for much of the first half.

However, the efforts of Hatem Ben Arfa, Shola Ameobi and others were unable to get past a solid Irons defence.

Matt Jarvis, Joe Cole and Stewart Downing caused problems for the hosts via the flanks, but the Londoners will be happy with the away point and clean sheet.

PRE-MATCH: Stewart Downing makes his first start for West Ham in place of the benched Joe Cole, having made his debut from the bench in the 2-0 win at home to Cardiff.

34’ - HOSTS’ FIRST REAL CHANCE: Newcastle win a corner, from which Yanga-Mbiwa does really well from a tight angle at the near post to glance a header across goal and narrowly over the bar.

36’ - ALMOST HIS FIRST HAMMERS GOAL: Great through ball down the left from O'Brien to Jarvis, whose cross finds Downing at the far post.... he heads into the ground and narrowly wide!

63' - ENTER JOE COLE: In a role reversal from last week, Cole replaces Downing as the rain begins to get heavier. Downing's performance was not terrible, but Sam Allardyce hopes fresh legs will lead to an opening.

89' - BALL IN THE NET: It's offside though as Morrison's deflected strike falls into the path of Maiga with Krul committed. The Hammers striker's tap-in finish does not count.

90+2' - BIG MISS: Sammy Ameobi's cross bounces off the far post and Gouffran is off target with the rebound from a couple of yards out, somehow! In fairness, he had very little time to react but that was a golden chance for a dramatic win.

TALKING POINT: That Gouffran chance represents more than just two extra points gone to waste. After a 4-0 hammering at Manchester City, Newcastle would have liked to have at least scored their first goal(s) of the new campaign on home turf in a winnable encounter against Sam Allardyce - who himself was once in charge of the Magpies.

West Ham were the only side that managed to keep a clean sheet both home and away against Newcastle United in the Premier League last season, and are now halfway towards doing it again.

However, the Hammers failed to address their inability to string together consecutive Premier League wins which stems back to the 2010/11 season.

Newcastle did at least manage to avoid losing four straight top flight fixtures for the first time in their existence by taking a point.

It was also the first Magpies home game in eight against London opposition to end in a draw (five home wins, two away wins in the previous seven)

Matt Jarvis (West Ham) - Edged out Ben Arfa for the award of 'Man Most Likely To Find A Breakthrough' with a constant threat from out wide and great interplay with the full-backs and Mark Noble.

Newcastle: Krul 7, Debuchy 6, Coloccini 6, Yanga-Mbiwa 7, Santon 7, Ben Arfa 8, Sissoko 7, Anita 7, Marveaux 7, Shola Ameobi 6, Cissé 5; Subs: Gouffran 6, Sammy Ameobi 6.

West Ham: Jaaskelainen 6, Demel 7, O'Brien 7, Collins 8, Reid 7, Noble 6, Diame 7, Nolan 5, Downing 7, Jarvis 8, Maiga 6; Subs: Morrison 6, Cole 6.