West Ham take care of business at Newcastle with 3-0 win

West Ham continue to pick up points where they historically haven’t, nabbing all three goals in a match at St. James’ Park in Newcastle. After winning at Everton earlier this season West Ham seemed deadset on tearing down their away records and proved it again at Newcastle. Here are my post-match thoughts.

Chicharito is proving us all wrong

Just days after the Sun reported that Chicharito wanted more starting time and hasn’t ruled out a move away from the club in the summer or sooner, Javier Hernandez gets the start and proves all of his critics wrong. Manuel Pellegrini finally did what we all wanted – started Chicharito alongside another striker and it paid dividends.

West Ham were under attack early in this match, but Chicharito broke the spell of possession and momentum for Newcastle with a character goal. The fox in the box found a perfect cross from Robert Snodgrass and hit the bouncing ball past a helpless keeper. Arnautovic drew both defenders and allowed for Chicharito to get open on a terrific run.

The second was a great show of pace from Hernandez who took a nodded header from Arnautovic and ran thirty yards and coolly finished bottom corner. Hernandez picked up the standard on a game where Arnautovic was uncharacteristically off and it was needed. Awesome performance and not I totally want to keep him in January.

Cresswell took his chance

After a tough challenge but atrocious performance from Arthur Masuaku against Manchester City Aaron Cresswell got the start and took his opportunity well. The left-back stayed tight and compact while keeping his composure. He made four key blocks in the first half to stop crosses finding their way to Salomon Rondon and made another terrific block while marking two players on Rondon to keep the Hammers up in the match.

Cresswell was taken off after picking up what looked to be a knee or ankle injury in the 55th minute. He was able to walk off under his own power and Pellegrini opted to bring on Masuaku rather than risking further injury. It was a good start back for Cresswell who should be West Ham’s starter if the injury isn’t serious.

Felipe Anderson is good, eh?

In a world where Arnautovic is healthy, Anderson has a goal and two assists in this match. Two incredible long balls found and sent in Arnautovic on goal but he couldn’t finish either chance. Anderson was flying up the wing and cutting in all match long, staying high and providing constant passes and acting as an offensive option throughout the game.

His goal came at the end of stoppage time. He failed to convert earlier in the match on a shot sent at keeper Dubravka’s legs but made no mistake on the second chance, megging the keeper and putting the match away from West Ham. He ignored a pass to Chicharito but it was the better choice. What a match from this man.

The clean sheet was earned

Issa Diop and Fabian Balbuena – Wow what a performance. Both centre-backs were absolutely dominant in this match, stepping up and making crucial tackles when they were needed the most. It was a tag team effort by the defenders to shut down the extremely effective Rondon and they soundly won that battle.

With some help from Cresswell and Zabaleta, Diop and Balbuena kept the chances to the outside and supported their keeper extremely well. Fabianski made four saves in the match but was more impressive in his commanding of his penalty area. He was constantly out punching chances away or scooping up through balls that he could get to.

It wasn’t the most challenging match for the keeper but he was there when needed. On the flip side, the centre-backs were under fire and called on often but showed no fear in their aerial dominance and stalwart defending. Such a dominant and elite effort from the whole team.