West Ham 0-1 Newcastle: Premier League – live reaction

Newcastle are up to sixth with that win, level on points with City. Fifth place, remember, might be enough for Champions League qualification. Forget the performance, that’s a massive result for Eddie Howe and co.

West Ham, meanwhile, remain in 16th. They are comfortable, though, 16 points above the drop zone and 13 points from any sort of European qualification.

The Newcastle players go to greet their fans in the away end. “EIEIEIO, Up the Premier League we go,” sings the matchwinner, Bruno Guimaraes in front of the TV cameras.

Eddie Howe punches the air in delight, and who can blame him? His side return to the north-east with three points and injury-free.

Full-time: West Ham United 0-1 Newcastle United

90+4 min: Newcastle are comfortable here. Tonali has been quietly excellent in midfield.

90+2 min: A couple of useful crosses are delivered into Newcastle’s box as West Ham revert to a direct kitchen-sink sort of game. Newcastle twice clear, through Pope and Trippier.

90 min: Bowen wins a free-kick. It’s a pretty damning image that many West Ham fans have already started to leave their seats. The home side are only one goal down! I’m not sure if that’s a bad reflection on the performance, the stadium or the fans. Or all of the above!

Six minutes added on! There’s still time for an equaliser.

88 min: Just as I write that, Soler leaves Guimaraes crumpled in a heap. But it’s just a little knock to the head. The Brazilian is OK.

Newcastle manager Howe has seen enough, though. Guimaraes comes off for Longstaff.

86 min: Newcastle are happy to sit back now and protect their lead. What a brilliant result this would be for Howe and co. Newcastle have not played well but are four (and a bit) minutes away from another three points. And crucially, there have been no injuries before Sunday’s final.

84 min: Potter throws on Ings for Ward-Prowse. Another striker thrown into the mix, although this West Ham XI now feels a little jumbled and discombobulated.

83 min: Burn is not the sort of person you would want to step on your toes. But that’s exactly what happens to Scarles. Burn is booked.

80 min: I don’t think Evan Ferguson has had a kick since coming on for West Ham.

78 min: Newcastle finally make some changes. Callum Wilson, who has 12 goals in 12 starts against West Ham, comes on for Isak. Barnes comes off for Willock.

75 min: “If Wan-Bissaka has back some of the style and poise he showed before his career was destroyed at Old Trafford, you could put together a Champions League contender with players who fit that description over the past seven to 10 years, he would probably be a good choice for this year’s England run-up matches,” emails Ken Houghton. “Fairly certain Graham Potter could get him there, and he is the type of player Tuchel prefers, especially when his other choices include Taylor Harwood-Bellis and the mercurial Harry Maguire. It’s a stretch, but 20-30 minutes against Albania isn’t a bad idea”.

Yep, I would agree. I think it’s useful to have a right back with Wan-Bissaka’s qualities in the squad. If England are defending a one-goal lead and they need to bring on a defensive-minded right back to protect the game and neutralise an opposing winger, he’s a great option. There’s no point having three attacking right backs in the squad. I would take Trent Alexander-Arnold (who can also cover in midfield), Kyle Walker (who can also cover at centre-back) and maybe Wan-Bissaka? Rico Lewis, Tino Livramento and Reece James are better with the ball at their feet, but Wan-Bissaka has a real USP with his defensive qualities. And the West Ham right back has had a great season.

73 min: Pope is down with some sort of injury. The camera cuts to a worried Eddie Howe on the sidelines. I think the Newcastle keeper is going to be OK to continue.

Penalty shout for West Ham!

70 min: West Ham make another change and it’s an attacking one: Evan Ferguson for Aaron Cresswell. A striker for a left back. It’s crazy to think that Ferguson is just 20.

68 min: There was some complaints from West Ham over the goal about a push from Isak on Kilman. There was contact but not enough to send a 6ft4in centre back crashing to the turf.

66 min: West Ham make a triple change, although I think they were planning them before the goal. Carlos Soler, Konstantinos Mavropanos and Lucas Paqueta come on for Edson Alvarez, Tomas Soucek and Jean-Clair Todibo.

GOAL! West Ham United 0-1 Newcastle United (Guimaraes 64)

Areola makes a wonder save!

60 min: There are many reasons why Howe must be contemplating a substitute so far, namely because Newcastle have been dreadful this second half. But also, surely, because he will want to protect his best players before Sunday’s League Cup final.

58 min: If Pickford and Ramsdale are No 1 and No2, who is England’s third keeper these days? Pope? Henderson? Could even Burnley’s James Trafford or Ipswich’s Alex Palmer get a look in?

56 min: Pope again shows how flustered he can be with the ball at his feet, kicking the ball straight out for a throw-in under the slightest of pressure from Bowen. I’m not sure Tuchel, in the stands tonight, will be particularly impressed by the Newcastle keeper there.

54 min: Back come West Ham as they earns a corner, from which Ward-Prowse crosses deep for Kudus, who completely bungles a volley goalwards with little purchase. Trippier easily clears.

51 min: West Ham look bright! Almost as though he read my last post, Kudus picks up the ball and drives down the left wing with purpose, leaving Burn in his wake. Kudus crosses low, the ball skidding across Newcastle’s six-yard box, where nobody was there to tap home. That’s the sort of chance a natural striker would gobble up.

49 min: Schar makes a risky tackle on Kudus inside Newcastle’s box, but the Swiss gets just enough of the ball to escape punishment. A few inches away from being a penalty.

47 min: The ball breaks to Kudus, who finds a pocket of space behind Trippier. But rather than bomb down the left wing to attack Newcastle, just as Bournemouth’s Kerkez did at Tottenham to such great effect, Kudus inexplicably checks and recycles play. The move, inevitably, breaks down.

Peeeeeeeeep!

Half-time reading: