Newcastle strike huge blow to 10-man West Ham’s Champions League dream

Newcastle United closed on Premier League survival after winning a five-goal thriller with West Ham at St James’ Park – and dented the visitors’ hopes of playing in the Champions League next season.

The pivotal moment came shortly after the half hour. Issa Diop bundled into his own net after good work from Allan Saint-Maximin, with Craig Dawson then sent off for a second yellow card after committing a foul in the build-up.

Five minutes later it was 2-0. Lukasz Fabianski made a mess of catching the ball from a corner, it slipped through his fingers and landed at the feet of Joelinton, who made no mistake and tapped home.

In the second half, West Ham forced Newcastle back and eventually grabbed a goal through Diop, who latched on to a Jarrod Bowen clipped cross and headed the ball past Martin Dubravka.

The game then took another twist as Ciaran Clark gave away a penalty, after a lengthy VAR and on-field check by Kevin Friend. Up stepped Jesse Lingard, who smashed the ball into the back of the net.

But the Hammers could not hold onto the point as substitute Joe Willock proved his worth, heading in to send the Magpies nine points clear of the relegation zone.

Next up for Steve Bruce's is a tough away trip to Liverpool while David Moyes' team make journey from east to west London to take on Chelsea, who are also vying for a Champions League spot.

In the past three games West Ham have conceded seven goals and still managed to collect seven points out of a possible nine. But it finally caught up with them, costly errors from two of their most experienced players Dawson and Fabianski meant they ended the first half two goals down and with only 10 men. Despite a spirited fight back in the second half the Hammers couldn't hold on to grab a valuable point in their quest for Champions League football. At the end of the season David Moyes may well look back to this game with regret as his side simply didn't do enough when they dominated possession.

The on loan forward may well have written his name into Geordie folklore with a vital goal, that could seal another season of top flight football for the club. Time and time again he's in the right place at the right time to punish the opposition when they least expect it. Today it only took him 60 seconds to get onto the score sheet, leaving Newcastle fans wondering what he could do if he had more than a handful of minutes on the pitch.

Newcastle United: Dubravka 6, Murphy 7, Fernández 6, Clark 6, Dummett 6, Ritchie 6, Almirón 7, Shelvey 6, S Longstaff 6, Joelinton 6, Saint-Maximin 8. Subs: Wilson 6, Willock 9, Carroll n/a

West Ham United: Fabianski 5, Diop 6, Dawson 4, Ogbonna 6, Coufal 6, Noble 6, Soucek 6, Johnson 6, Fornals 6, Bowen 6, Lingard 7. Subs: Benrahma 6, Lanzini 5, Fredericks N/A

36' - GOAL! Newcastle 1-0 West Ham. Saint-Maximin does it. He picks up the ball and drives at the West Ham defence. His clipped shot is turned into the back of the net off the boot of Diop

36' - Red card! And Dawson is sent off. He fouled Joelinton in the build up to the goal and picks up a second booking of the game. It's all going wrong for the Hammers

41' - GOAL! Newcastle 2-0 West Ham. Joelinton scores. It's a terrible mistake from Fabianski who spills the ball from the corner. It falls to the striker who taps the ball in from close range

73' - GOAL! Newcastle 2-1 West Ham. Bowen clips the to ball into the box and Diop to gets his head on it. Game on!

80' - GOAL! Newcastle 2-2 West Ham. Lingard smashes the ball into the back of the net from the penalty spot. Kevin Friend awarded the spot kick after going to the monitor to judge that Clark had handled the ball.

83' - GOAL! Newcastle 3-2 West Ham. Willock scores!! He's just come off the bench and headers the ball past Fabianski. Simply amazing!