It was another painful afternoon for Newcastle United fans as they watched their team collapse to a 3-1 defeat against West Ham at the London Stadium.
After a bright start, where Jacob Murphy’s fine strike gave Newcastle the lead inside the opening minutes, everything quickly fell apart. From that point on, the Magpies struggled for control, composure, and conviction, delivering one of their most disappointing performances of the season.
Fans and writers alike were left stunned by the team’s lack of intensity and direction. Many described the game as one of the worst displays under Eddie Howe, particularly considering West Ham’s poor form heading into the clash.
Newcastle looked nothing like the side that had been so impressive at St James’ Park just days earlier, and the performance left plenty of questions about the team’s away form, which continues to be a major concern.
Nat Seaton couldn’t hide her disbelief at what she had witnessed. She said the early goal made what followed even harder to accept, as not a single player seemed to perform to their usual standard.
The energy was flat, and the commitment lacking, resulting in a performance that, in her words, the travelling fans would want to forget. For her, the own goal and late third summed up a miserable afternoon and a team that looked lost.
Billy Miller called it a “dismal display,” adding that Newcastle’s poor away form could prove costly if it isn’t fixed soon. He was frustrated not only by the result but also by the manner of the defeat, describing moments where the players looked like strangers meeting for a casual kickabout rather than Premier League professionals.
He also expressed annoyance at the lengthy VAR decision that confirmed West Ham’s lead before halftime, though he admitted Newcastle fully deserved to lose.
For GToon, the result was nothing short of a disgrace. He said Newcastle were outplayed from start to finish by a struggling side and highlighted the poor ball control and sloppy individual errors that plagued the team throughout.
His verdict was simple this was one of the worst games he’d seen Newcastle play in a very long time.
Matt Busby echoed those feelings, calling the performance “abjectly terrible.” Apart from Murphy’s early goal, he struggled to find a single positive, describing how everything fell apart immediately after the opening strike.
He admitted the third goal, coming from a defensive disaster, perfectly summed up the match and chose to distract himself with chores rather than think about the game any longer.
David Punton labeled the display as “a shocker” and said it was a typical Newcastle moment taking the lead against a struggling opponent only to collapse completely.
He reminded fans that West Ham hadn’t won at home since February, which made the defeat even more frustrating. Punton criticized both the players and the manager, suggesting that the team looked mentally drained and tactically lost.
Although he acknowledged that fatigue might have played a role, he called it a weak excuse and insisted the team is far better than what they showed.
Jamie Smith didn’t hold back either, describing it as a shocking and unacceptable performance that turned their away record from worrying to disastrous. He said the team’s passing was awful, and their lack of attacking intent was alarming.
For Smith, the defeat ranks among the worst results of the Howe era, comparable only to the painful home loss to West Ham last season. He did, however, praise Malick Thiaw as the only player who emerged with any credit.
Greg McPeake’s reaction was full of disbelief. He couldn’t understand how Newcastle had allowed a poor West Ham side to dominate every area of the pitch. Sitting among home supporters, he called the experience “horrible” and said it was one of those matches you simply want to erase from memory.
His message was clear Newcastle couldn’t possibly play worse than this, and the team must bounce back immediately in their next game.
The match statistics painted an interesting picture. Newcastle had 62% possession compared to West Ham’s 38%, yet the hosts created more danger, recording nine shots on target to Newcastle’s four.
Despite having more touches in the opposition box, Newcastle rarely looked threatening after the opening goal. Goals from Paqueta, an own goal by Botman in first-half stoppage time, and Soucek’s late strike sealed the Hammers’ victory.
It was a humbling afternoon for the Magpies, leaving the fans frustrated and the players searching for answers. For a team that has shown flashes of brilliance at home, their inability to reproduce that same intensity on the road remains their biggest problem.
The supporters who made the long trip to London deserved far better. Now, all eyes turn to Wednesday’s Champions League clash against Athletic Bilbao, where a strong response is needed to erase the memory of a miserable day in the capital.
