Daily WHUFC News - 27th August 2017

West Ham beaten by Newcastle in north east
WHUFC.com

It was a day to forget in the north east for West Ham United on Saturday as
Newcastle United were 3-0 winners in the Premier League. Goals from the
Magpies' new striker Joselu, defender Ciaran Clark and substitute Aleksander
Mitrovic meant the Hammers suffered their third consecutive Premier League
defeat at St. James' Park. Slaven Bilic made two changes to the starting XI
which so nearly won a well-earned point with ten men against Southampton
last week, continuing with James Collins at the back after a fine Carabao
Cup performance at Cheltenham and restoring Edimilson Fernandes to the team.
The first half was a feisty affair but until the half hour mark, provided
little in the way of goalscoring opportunities. Isaac Hayden did fire just
over from the edge of the box on the 20-minute mark after the Hammers had
cleared a corner, though the shot was never troubling Joe Hart in goal. The
Hammers ventured forward with 15 left to play in the first period and came
close to breaking the deadlock in the north east. Mark Noble, deep in the
Newcastle half down the right-hand-side, checked back onto his left, before
sweeping in a cross which eventually was headed by Andre Ayew. The forward's
knock-down found its way to Aaron Cresswell, but the full-back spurned the
chance, slicing his half volley just over from a tight angle. Ayew did have
a go at goal at goal himself just moments earlier, but his long range effort
was curled well over the crossbar. And despite the pressure from the
visitors, it was Newcastle who took the leads six minutes later. Declan Rice
was caught in possession in midfield, and the Magpies countered quickly;
Atsu, racing past Zabaleta in the left-hand-channel, found himself
one-on-one with Hart and, aware of his surroundings, cleverly laid-off for
Joselu to poke into the empty net. Just seven minutes after the restart, the
Hammers were so nearly back on level terms.

Cresswell – who was named in Gareth Southgate's England squad this week –
was again involved. Latching onto Antonio's through ball, the Liverpudlian
this time hit the target and as Rob Elliot in the home goal parried straight
into the six-yard-box, Chicharito's stab at goal was just cleared by Ciaran
Clark a yard away from crossing the line. Next, it was the hosts' turn to
threaten. With Rafa Benitez's side driving forward in numbers on the hour
mark, Ayoze Perez did well to hold the play up and set Matt Ritchie on his
way. The former Bournemouth man, approaching the box, let fly with his left
foot, but Hart was equal to the effort. A quick-thinking Pablo Zabaleta,
first to the rebound, denied Joselu a certain second.

That second came for Newcastle ten minutes later, though. Ritchie – again
the danger man – delivered a beautiful cross in from the right, and Ciaran
Clark – up from the back – headed in against the post to put the game beyond
West Ham's reach. Moments later, Ritchie was denied a third for the home
team as Angelo Ogbonna threw himself in front of a goalbound effort to keep
the deficit at two. But into the last five minutes, the hosts were looking
for a third and got it with four left to play. A simple header over the top
found Ritchie, whose through ball left sub Aleksander Mitrovic with Hart to
beat. Rounding the stopper, the forward completed the scoring, rounding off
a day to forget in the north east for the Hammers.

Newcastle United: Elliot, Manquillo, Lascelles, Clark, Mbemba, Hayden (Diame
82), Merino, Atsu, Ritchie (Murphy 88), Perez, Joselu (Mitrovic 71).
Subs not used: Aarons, Saivet, Gamez, Woodman.
Goals: Joselu 36, Clark 73, Mitrovic 86
Bookings: Merino 84

West Ham United: Hart, Zabaleta, Collins, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Noble (Sakho
70), Rice (Lanzini 46), Antonio, Fernandes, Ayew (Kouyate 70), Chicharito.
Subs not used: Fonte, Adrian, Obiang, Masuaku.
Bookings: Chicharito 17

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Bilic: It simply wasn't good enough
WHUFC.com

Slaven Bilic was making no excuses after his West Ham United side slipped to
their third straight Premier League defeat. The Hammers' poor start to the
2017/18 season continued at Newcastle United, where goals from Joselu,
Ciaran Clark and Aleksandr Mitrovic condemned to an instantly forgettable
3-0 loss. The manager made no secret of his feelings in his post-match
interview at St James' Park, lamenting a display that leaves his team bottom
of the table going into the international break. "It's very disappointing
and it's very frustrating, the way we played," he began. "They were quicker,
better in possession, better to the second ball and they punished our
mistakes. It simply wasn't good enough. "The first two goals, we gave them
the ball in dangerous areas, but we still have to react. They were
individual mistakes but still you can make it up and it doesn't have to be a
goal, but we helped them. "We didn't look good, we didn't play good and they
were simply the better side. They deserved those goals, because they pressed
high up the pitch and forced those mistakes. We gave the ball away easily
but they were on top of us and put the balls in good areas. "They were more
powerful than us, more physical and it wasn't good."

After a stirring second half comeback with ten men at Southampton and a
midweek Carabao Cup win at Cheltenham Town, West Ham travelled to Tyneside
with renewed optimism. But dreams of securing a first Premier League win of
the campaign turned into a nightmare 90 minutes and a third straight defeat
at St James' Park. "Last week was a different defeat to this week. I was
mostly talking about positives last week. This time we have to admit that
they were simply better in everything, especially determination, wanting to
win the second balls. "We can talk about excuses, but after this kind of
defeat and performance, I don't want to. We can't talk about the midweek
game and a reason why we didn't look fresh and fit enough today. "After 2-0,
it always gives the opponent an extra strength and power. Of course it's
hard, then."

Bilic and his staff now have two weeks to prepare their squad for the
opening home game of the season against another newly-promoted side,
Huddersfield Town, on Monday 11 September. "Nobody will get us out of this
situation other than ourselves," he confirmed. "With this international
break, we will need to sort this out. "Based on today, yes [we need to work
on everything]. We didn't look good with the ball, we didn't look good
without the ball."

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Noble calls for Club to stick together after Newcastle defeat
WHUFC.com

West Ham United skipper Mark Noble called for whole Club to stick together
after his side were beaten 3-0 at Newcastle United on Saturday. The Hammers
were comfortably beaten in the north east with Joselu, Ciaran Clark and
Aleksander Mitrovic goals sealing the win for the hosts. Aaron Cresswell had
the best of the chances for Slaven Bilic's side, firing just over from a
tight angle in the first half before testing Rob Elliot in the second with
the score at 1-0. But Noble, who admitted the performance was not good
enough at St. James' Park, insisted it is time for everyone to support each
other after three consecutive Premier League defeats. "We are going to lose
games, we know that, but as a club we need to stick together," said the
skipper after the defeat. "The West Ham fans, I've known for all my life,
and they show their emotions; so they should. That's down to us to make it
right on the pitch and I'm sure we'll do that. At this time, we fully need
them to get behind us. "It's wasn't good enough, today. We looked like we
just didn't get going. But we didn't seem there today – I'm not sure why –
but maybe it's a bit of tiredness from the midweek game and the travelling.
"But it shouldn't be, we're professionals and we should be doing better. We
didn't start too badly, we had a couple of half chances, and the crowd here
were looking for that first goal and we got that, and we fell away at the
end. "The atmosphere in the dressing room isn't great, but we're lucky it's
early in the season. It's not the start we wanted to have, and we haven't
looked good at the minute. But it's why we play the sport, there are highs
and lows."

The Hammers fell behind at the end of the first half when Declan Rice was
robbed of possession, leading to a Newcastle counter and Joselu's opener.
Noble believes, however, Rice's mistake will be a moment the youngster can
learn from in the future. "Declan is an 18-year-old kid, a fantastic
footballer and if I'm honest, [the mistake] will probably do him good," he
continued. "He will realise that the game isn't all rosy and when you come
on at Old Trafford and play in the cup at Cheltenham and do well, it's not
always as easy [as that]. "We've all made mistakes, we've all done it, but I
know Declan is a top player and he won't let that mistake bother him at
all."

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Slaven Bilic: West Ham manager worried by Hammers' form after loss at
Newcastle
BBC.co.uk

West Ham boss Slaven Bilic admitted to being worried by his side's form
after their winless start to the Premier League season continued at
Newcastle. The Hammers were comfortably beaten 3-0 at St James' Park to
leave without any points after three games. They have had to play three
successive away games as the London Stadium hosted the athletics World
Championships. "Newcastle were better in every aspect of the game. They had
simply more power, more determination," said Bilic. "I am worried. I'm not
panicking. It's very early."

This latest defeat comes after the Hammers' opening-day loss at Manchester
United and a narrow 3-2 reverse at Southampton, in which they came from 2-0
down to level before conceding a late penalty. "After the game against
Southampton, we lost the game, we still had zero points but I was still
very, very positive with the way we played, with the way we reacted after we
were left with 10 men," added Bilic. "This is different, this is worrying,
but like for every club, it has its ups and downs and nobody will take us
out of this situation but ourselves. "Look, I am the manager, it's my job to
be confident and to believe in good and bad times. Even when the times are
bad, then you see the importance of the job more than in the good times. I
haven't changed in that."

West Ham's next league game is at the London Stadium, against Huddersfield,
who drew 0-0 at home with Southampton on Saturday to maintain their unbeaten
start to the season. Bilic has spent a reported £42m on players this summer,
bringing in goalkeeper Joe Hart, defender Pablo Zabaleta, midfielder Marco
Arnautovic and striker Javier Hernandez.

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