Joe Willock scored his first goal of the season (45′ + 1′) as Newcastle United have now managed to take 10 points from their last four Premier League matches following Saturday’s 1-1 draw against West Ham.
“We knew today that it was a really important day to try and get three points but unfortunately we couldn’t,” West Ham manager David Moyes said.
West Ham struck first with Craig Dawson’s opener, but they failed to move into the top four with the result.
Dawson has now scored 19 Premier League goals since 2014, more than any other central defender. 14 of those 19 goals have found the back of the net via headers.
“It is a long time since journalists talked about West Ham in a top-four chase,” Moyes added. “We want to be that club and we enjoy the journalists talking about us in that way. Today was not a good performance, it was good we took a point because on another day maybe we would not have but if we want to hang in with the big boys we are going to have to win games like this.”
This was an even more surprising of a result given Newcastle were without Allan Saint-Maximin (injury) as well as Kieran Trippier (injury).
Newcastle are now five points clear of the relegation zone.
“I’m satisfied with the point but frustrated it maybe wasn’t more,” Newcastle manager Eddie Howe said. “The way we started the game was excellent. The only disappointment for me was that we only got one goal – there was more in it for us.”
Newcastle have now taken 12 points from their last six Premier League matches, winning three and finishing in a draw in the other three.
Newcastle won the possession battle 53-47, with both sides finishing with 3 shots on goal. The visitors did act as the aggressor for much of the match, though, with more fouls and corner kicks — pointing at their activity on both sides of the field.
“Although we dominated they still had a threat in the game,” Howe added. “That’s what West Ham can do to you. We’re disappointed that the free-kick was poorly defended from our perspective. That’s a frustration, but the character and response was there. With the balls we put into the box, it should have been more.”
West Ham will look to get back on track next weekend when they host Wolves (Sunday, 27 February).
Newcastle will be on the road next Saturday against Brentford (26 February).
