West Ham executed a flawless away performance on Monday night, securing a 2-0 victory over Newcastle thanks to goals from Tomas Soucek and Aaron Wan-Bissaka. The much-needed win not only lifted the Hammers six points clear of the relegation zone but also eased the mounting pressure on manager Julen Lopetegui.
The victory comes at a pivotal moment for Lopetegui, who had urged his team to stop leaning on their congested fixture schedule as an excuse for their recent struggles. Having taken charge in the summer following David Moyes’ departure, the Spanish coach was under scrutiny after a rocky run of two defeats in their previous four league games, coupled with a frustrating goalless draw against Everton before the international break that left fans restless.
On a chilly night at St. James’ Park, West Ham made an early statement. Soucek put the visitors ahead in the 10th minute, directing a perfectly placed header past Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope after a precise set-piece delivery. At the other end, Lukasz Fabianski was in commanding form, making a crucial point-blank save to deny Anthony Gordon and preserving the Hammers’ slender advantage.
Newcastle, who drop to 10th place on goal difference, started brightly but were left ruing missed opportunities. Alexander Isak saw his composed finish ruled out for a marginal offside, then squandered another chance with a wayward strike. Gordon, too, missed a golden opportunity shortly after halftime when he failed to convert Harvey Barnes’ pass, flashing his shot wide of the target.
Their wastefulness proved costly just minutes later, as Wan-Bissaka doubled West Ham’s lead in the 62nd minute. After receiving an incisive pass from Jarrod Bowen, the right-back arrowed a precise low shot past Pope, the ball kissing the far post before nestling into the net.
The victory offers Lopetegui breathing room and momentum ahead of a challenging schedule. West Ham will next host an in-form Arsenal on November 30, followed by a midweek trip to Leicester and consecutive Monday night matches against Wolves and Bournemouth. While the team has climbed to 13th place, Lopetegui will hope this win marks the start of a sustained turnaround as the Hammers aim for consistency in the weeks ahead.
