Newcastle United player ratings vs West Ham as Harvey Barnes does well but 5/10 star concerns ahead of final

Newcastle United have reignited their momentum just in time for the Carabao Cup final, securing a hard-fought 1-0 victory over West Ham. With the highly anticipated final against Premier League leaders Liverpool looming, the Magpies desperately needed a confidence-boosting win to steady their nerves.

While the performance against West Ham was far from spectacular, the three points were crucial, even if the match itself was a largely uneventful affair.

The game got off to a slow start, with little action to excite the fans. Thomas Soucek squandered an early opportunity for West Ham, blazing over the bar within the first 40 seconds.

Newcastle’s Harvey Barnes came close with a header, but the first half trudged along without much incident. The second half followed a similar pattern until Bruno Guimaraes broke the deadlock just after the hour mark.

His decisive finish proved to be the difference, handing Newcastle a vital win. While the Magpies were rarely troubled defensively, they will need to sharpen their attacking edge if they hope to lift the trophy at Wembley.

Nick Pope delivered a solid performance in goal, earning a 7 out of 10. Despite some wayward kicking, he made crucial saves and commanded his area effectively, particularly during set pieces.

His alertness was on full display when he headed clear a dangerous ball late in the game. Although he wasn’t tested frequently, his presence provided a much-needed morale boost for the team.

Kieran Trippier also earned a 7 for his dependable display on the right flank. With Lewis Hall unavailable, Trippier stepped up admirably, showcasing his defensive prowess against the speedy Mohammed Kudus. His timely interventions prevented West Ham from creating clear-cut chances, and his experience will be invaluable in the upcoming final.

Fabian Schar received a 6 for his efforts. While he largely kept West Ham’s forwards quiet, his positioning let him down on a couple of occasions, leaving the defense exposed. Dan Burn, on the other hand, earned a 7 for his composed performance.

Despite a mistimed challenge that could have proved costly, he marshaled the backline effectively and made a cynical foul to disrupt a West Ham attack, earning a yellow card in the process.

Tino Livramento struggled on the left flank, earning a 5. Filling in for the injured Lewis Hall, Livramento looked out of place on his unnatural side. His inability to replicate Hall’s creativity and attacking threat was evident, and his mistakes nearly cost Newcastle dearly. Two of West Ham’s best chances arose from his errors, including a mishit clearance and a loss of possession in a dangerous area.

Bruno Guimaraes shone brightly, earning a 7 for his influential display. He looked more like his usual self, driving forward with purpose and delivering incisive passes.

Although his passing was occasionally wayward, he made amends by scoring the winning goal, poking the ball into the net to secure a crucial victory.

Sandro Tonali was a standout performer, earning an 8 for his commanding presence in midfield. He ensured Newcastle controlled the tempo of the game and rarely allowed West Ham to mount serious threats. Defensively, he was sublime, winning the majority of his duels, though his distribution was occasionally sloppy.

Joelinton received a 6 for his combative display in midfield. While his passing was loose at times, he made several strong runs and added physicality to the midfield battle. Jacob Murphy struggled to make an impact, earning a 5 for his ineffective use of the ball on the rare occasions he was involved.

Alexander Isak also earned a 5 for his efforts. The Swedish striker tried to make things happen but found himself stifled by West Ham’s low block. A lack of service and support limited his influence, and he missed a decent chance by putting the ball over the bar. However, he emerged unscathed from the match, which is a positive sign ahead of the final.

Harvey Barnes was Newcastle’s most dangerous player, earning a 7.5 for his lively performance. His cross led to Guimaraes’ goal, and he came close to scoring himself with a well-directed header. His movement and energy in attacking areas bode well for Newcastle’s chances at Wembley.

Among the substitutes, Joe Willock and Callum Wilson both earned a 6 for their energetic contributions, while Sean Longstaff received a 5 after losing possession in a dangerous position.

While the win over West Ham was far from a vintage performance, it provided Newcastle with a much-needed boost ahead of their Carabao Cup final showdown with Liverpool. The Magpies will need to elevate their game significantly if they hope to overcome the Premier League leaders and claim silverware at Wembley.