West Ham 3-1 Newcastle United Player Ratings: Paqueta Rated 8.5/10 as Hammers Clinch Comeback Win

This win is nothing short of a ray of hope for Nuno Santos, West Ham, and their fans, as they secured three crucial points that could motivate them to climb out of the relegation zone, overtaking Nuno’s former team, who currently sit in 18th place. The match initially looked under Newcastle United’s control, but a wave of attacks between the 20th minute and halftime saw the hosts net two goals, making it a tough uphill battle for the visitors. It was a frantic start to this Premier League clash. We barely had time to settle before Jacob Murphy stunned the home crowd with a brilliant strike from distance. For a moment it felt like it would be a long afternoon for the Hammers.

However, the hosts didn't let their heads drop. They fought their way back into the match, with Lucas Paqueta leading the charge. His well-taken goal leveled the scores, and you could feel the momentum shift inside the stadium. The decisive moment came just before the halftime whistle. An unfortunate own goal from Sven Botman gifted West Ham a lead they would not surrender.

The second half was a tense affair. Newcastle pushed hard for an equalizer, throwing everything they had at the West Ham defense. But the home side stood firm, defending their box with grit and determination. From our perspective, it was a classic tale of taking your chances and a little bit of luck, sealing a huge three points for the Irons.

Here are West Ham Vs Newcastle United Player Ratings

West Ham Player Ratings vs Newcastle United

Here are West Ham Player Ratings vs Newcastle United

Goalkeeper

Alphonse Areola - 6.5: Couldn't do much about the rocket from Murphy for the opening goal. He seemed a bit shaky at first but grew into the game. Made a couple of important saves in the first half to keep his team in it. His distribution was a bit hit-and-miss, losing possession 15 times, but his two punches showed command in his area. A decent performance overall.

Defenders

Maximilian Kilman - 6.5: A solid if unspectacular outing for the defender. He was caught out a couple of times but made 4 crucial clearances. What stood out to us was his one key pass, which is always a bonus from a centre-back. He lost a duel or two but generally held his own before being substituted.

El Hadji Malick Diouf - 7.5: We were really impressed with this guy's performance. He was a defensive rock, winning a staggering 10 out of 12 duels. Recovered the ball 8 times and was always looking to get forward, completing all three of his dribble attempts. A commanding presence on the flank who contributed at both ends of the pitch.

Jean-Clair Todibo - 7.0: A clearance machine. He made 10 of them, which tells you everything you need to know about the pressure Newcastle applied. He won all of his duels and was tidy in possession. It wasn’t a flashy performance but it was an effective one, doing the dirty work that allowed his team to hold onto the lead.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka - 6.0: A mixed bag from Wan-Bissaka. He made an impressive 7 clearances which helped relieve pressure. However, he lost possession 13 times and his final ball was often lacking. He was solid defensively for the most part, but we expected a bit more quality going forward.

Midfielders

Crysencio Summerville - 7.0: A lively and energetic display. He was a constant threat, though he will be kicking himself for that missed chance that went over the bar. His high pass accuracy and defensive contributions (2 tackles, 2 interceptions) made him a valuable asset. He was always trying to make things happen before he was subbed off.

Lucas Paquetá - 8.5: Our man of the match. He dragged his team back into the game with a fantastic goal. He was everywhere, with 73 touches, winning 7 duels, and constantly probing the Newcastle defense. His energy and quality were infectious. A truly brilliant performance from the Brazilian maestro.

Mateus Fernandes - 8.0: The perfect partner for Paquetá today. He provided the clever headed assist for the equalizer and was a creative hub, making 3 key passes. His 88% pass accuracy shows how reliable he was in possession. A disciplined yet inventive display that was crucial to West Ham's control in midfield.

Jarrod Bowen - 7.0: The captain led by example with his work rate. He was so unlucky to hit the post early on. He created two chances and was a constant nuisance for the Newcastle backline. Lost the ball a few times but his effort never wavered, a proper captain's knock.

Freddie Potts - 7.0: A really solid, all-action midfield performance. Won 5 of his 7 duels, made 3 tackles, and registered 6 clearances. He also chipped in with two key passes. From our perspective, he did a bit of everything and provided the steel that allowed the more creative players to shine.

Forwards

Callum Wilson - 5.5: A very quiet afternoon for the striker. He only managed 15 touches in his 61 minutes on the pitch. He was isolated for large parts of the game and couldn't get involved. The game seemed to pass him by, and his substitution wasn't a surprise.

Manager

N. Simões Espírito Santo - 7.5: He deserves credit for the team's reaction to going a goal down so early. His side didn't panic and stuck to the game plan. They were organized defensively in the second half to see out the win. His substitutions were timely and helped manage the final stages of the game effectively.

Newcastle United Player Ratings vs West Ham

Here are Newcastle United Player Ratings vs West Ham

Goalkeeper

Nick Pope - 7.5: He can hold his head high despite the loss. Pope made 5 saves, some of which were top class to keep his side in the contest. He had no chance with the goal and was helpless for the own goal. His distribution was excellent, and he commanded his area well with two punches and six clearances.

Defenders

Sven Botman - 4.5: A day to forget for the Dutch defender. The unfortunate own goal was the decisive moment of the match. While he won all of his duels and was tidy on the ball, that one catastrophic error cost his team dearly. It's a harsh reality of football sometimes.

Malick Thiaw - 6.5: A solid defensive showing. He won all his tackles and made a crucial last-man tackle. He was strong in the air and read the game well with 3 clearances. He was a bit loose in possession at times but overall a decent outing under difficult circumstances.

Emil Krafth - 5.0: Struggled to make an impact and was hooked at halftime. He lost all his duels and gave away possession cheaply. It was a tough 45 minutes for him against a lively West Ham attack. The substitution felt necessary and correct.

Dan Burn - 6.0: An average performance from the big man. He was solid enough, winning most of his duels. However, he lost possession 14 times and didn't offer much going forward. A steady but unremarkable performance.

Midfielders

Joelinton - 6.0: He worked hard but struggled to impose himself on the game. His passing was tidy with 91% accuracy, but he lost a few key duels in the middle of the park. It felt like he was playing within himself and couldn't provide the drive Newcastle needed.

Sandro Tonali - 7.0: He saw a lot of the ball, with 98 touches and an incredible 95% pass accuracy. His long-range passing was a highlight, completing 10 of 11 long balls. However, for all his possession, he couldn't unlock the West Ham defense and lost the ball 13 times. Tidy, but lacked a cutting edge.

Bruno Guimarães - 7.0: The captain tried his best to make things happen, creating 4 chances and getting an assist. He was very neat on the ball. But that first-half yellow card seemed to hold him back a bit. He fought hard but ultimately couldn't turn the tide in his team's favor.

Forwards

Anthony Gordon - 6.0: Had a bright start and forced a good save from Areola. But he faded from the game and was substituted at halftime. It was a surprise to see him taken off, but he wasn't influencing the game as much as he would have liked.

Jacob Murphy - 7.5: Newcastle's best attacking player by a distance. He scored a wonderful goal to open the scoring and was a constant threat with his 5 shots. He was a livewire throughout, always looking to take players on. A fantastic individual performance in a losing cause.

Nick Woltemade - 5.5: Had a tough time leading the line in the first half. He lost most of his duels and was dispossessed twice. He struggled to get into the game and was another player subbed off at the break. A difficult debut in the starting lineup.

Manager

E. Howe - 6.0: His team started brilliantly with an early goal. However, they couldn't handle West Ham's response and conceded twice before halftime. His triple substitution at the break was a bold move to try and change the game, but his side couldn't find the breakthrough. They looked organized but lacked the final product.

Sportsdunia's player of the match is Paqueta