It says a lot about the quality of the squad Eddie Howe and co have put together at Newcastle United that, even on an afternoon where that never-ending injury crisis reared it’s ugly head again, The Magpies still had the strength in depth required to pull off a comeback for the ages.
Newcastle lost Jamaal Lascelles and Tino Livramento, two of Howe’s starters, and were even forced into subbing a pair of in-game subs; Emil Krafth and Miguel Almiron.
But it was the three substitutes who lasted until the end – Elliot Anderson, Lewis Hall and eventual matchwinner Harvey Barnes – who dragged Newcastle out of the mire, from 3-1 down to 4-3 up and within one place and one point of their visitors in seventh.
Newcastle stun West Ham in comeback win
“It’s a bad day for us,” sighs Kurt Zouma, the West Ham centre-back and captain speaking to TNT Sport after a shocking collapse which will ramp up the pressure on the oft-maligned David Moyes.
“Everyone was upset after the game, especially with the way things changed from being 3-1 up. We were playing really well, but then we stopped. (Newcastle) put us under a lot of pressure and we couldn’t cope with it.
“And, in the end, they managed to get the goals that got them the win.”
Barnes, obviously, will hog most of the headlines. Back fit after a long spell out injured himself, the summer signing from Leicester City reminded everything why he was one of the most potent wide players in the Premier League during his time at the King Power Stadium.
Harvey Barnes hits brilliant winner
If his first was cool and concise – slipping through the legs of Lukasz Fabianski following a gorgeous Alexander Isak pass – then his 90th minute winner was a cracker befitting some of the greatest widemen to grace St James, from David Ginola to Laurent Robert and Hatem Ben Arfa.
Jinking away from Kalvin Phillips, Barnes whipped a ferocious shot into the far corner. But do not downplay the influence of fellow second-half subs Anderson and Hall, the youngsters bringing energy and tenacity at a time of the game when Newcastle were crying out for exactly that.
“Credit to them,” Zouma adds. “They had nothing to lose and went for it when they were 3-1 down, and I think their substitutes made a difference.
“When they made it 3-2 we knew it was going to be hard with their fans. But we just didn’t do enough (to hold on). It’s incredibly frustrating.”
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