Send On The Gunner Part Two

United kick off Saturday's football in what is yet another crucial fixture in terms of survival after obtaining three crucial points last week in the victory against Burnley. Steve Bruce has stuck with the five at the back system (5-3-2) for the third consecutive time for today's game, with Callum Wilson staying on the bench after making his first appearance last week since his injury. Dubravka keeps his place in goal. The back five is unchanged with Murphy, Clark, Fernandez, Dummett and Ritchie. The Midfield Three, also unchanged are Almiron, Shelvey and Longstaff. Leading the line up front are Joelinton alongside Allan Saint-Maximin who starts after his excellent performance in his key role on the Victory at Turf Moor.

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The match gets underway and Fabianski almost makes a calamity of an error in the 16th minute from Longstaff's corner when he misjudged the flight of the ball, luckily for him Ogbonna was there to intercept the ball. In the 14th minute Murphy sought to catch out the keeper with a low driven shot towards the bottom corner. But Fabianski gets down to make the stop. One minute later Noble's free-kick picked out Dawson who headed the ball straight down the throat of Dubravka. On the 19th minute Almiron has his cross cleared by the head of Issa Diop who could only clear the ball as far as Saint-Maximin who took a touch and drilled it towards goal, but like Dawson's attempt, the shot was straight at the keeper.

Twenty-Three minutes in and that man ASM was on the ball again charging at the West Ham defense, Saint-Maximin got in behind at got his shot away but it was blocked by the legs of Dawson. The game has started end-to-end as on the 26th minute mark Jared Bowen cut in on the right hand side and hit the ball with some venom on his left foot, Shelvey got in the way of the ball and Dubravka got across to prevent the corner.

36th minute and it was a disaster for West ham as Dawson's bad touch allowed Joelinton to obtain possession and poke the ball through to Saint-Maximin who emulated his goal scoring run dribbling into the box, twisting and turning, eventually getting the shot away. On target the ball headed towards goal but lacked significant power to trouble the defense, or so it would seem as Diop blocked the ball with his left foot and then knocked it into the back of the net with the heel of his right boot. 1-0. During the pass made by Joelinton, Dawson clattered into the Newcastle number nine, picking up a second yellow for his trouble's leaving West Ham with ten men for the rest of the game.

West Ham need to push for an equiliser before half-time. But no such luck as Ritchie floated in a corner on the right hand side, but the corner is too close to the keeper, and then even more of a disaster for West Ham as Fabianski spilled the ball right in front of the rejuvenated Joelinton who pounced on the opportunity poking the ball into the gaping goal to double the lead. 2-0.

United didn't stop there, Allan Saint-Maximin switched the play over to Joelinton who got into the box and had an effort on goal but Fabianski got down well to make the stop on that occasion. Half Time 2-0.

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The Hammers kicked off for the second half but Miggy Almiron had the first shot of the send half with a good effort just going wide from distance. Then on the 48th minute Dubravka was called into action when Jarred Bowen received the ball on a tight angle, Bowen took the shot on anyway but was denied by the big Slovakian shot stopper.

Just past the hour mark and Lingard was starting to get into the game picking up the ball, Lingard had an effort from distance that just went wide of the goal. 64th Lingard had a free-kick which headed away by Shelvey, only as far as the right back Johnson who struck the ball over the bar. On the 69th minute Almiron laid off Ritchie on the left, Ritchie put the ball into the box for Wilson who came on for Saint-Maximin who appeared to limp off the pitch. Ritchie's ball evaded Wilson and rolled into the hands of Fabianski. It has been a good attacking display for Newcastle, however Diop made amends for his own goal when Bowen pinged the ball into the box to find the head of Diop who headed the ball down towards goal, the ball bouncing off the floor deceived Dubravka crossing the line to give West Ham a glimmer of hope. VAR had a quick check for offside but Murphy was found to have played him onside. 2-1.

Things got significantly worse for the Mags in the 78th minute as Ciaran Clark's challenge in the box was deemed by VAR rightly so to have touched his arms which was risen in a unnatural position to give the Hammers a penalty. Lingard stepped up and smashed the ball off of the post to earn his side an equalizer. 2-2.

Newcastle really have turned a corner this season as they put pressure on West Ham in their own half with Wilson playing the ball across to Almiron, but the ball falls to Murphy instead as there is too much spin on the ball, Murphy struck the ball ever so sweetly but some how Ben Johnson got to the line just in time to make a goalline clearance. But United weren't in the mood to settle for a point. Not today. Ritchie's cross found Willock who jumped above the Hammers defense to reinstate the Newcastle lead. This goal would have raised the roof at St James Park if the crowds were allowed to attend. What an aquisition Willock has turned out to be. 3-2.

Eight minutes of added time are added on to this game and it is Newcastle who look like they will get a fourth goal with Wilson creating space, getting into the box to get a shot away which was blocked by the defense. Full Time Newcastle United 3-2 West Ham United.

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What a result this is for Newcastle. This was supposed to be the beginning of a tough period of games where most fans wouldn't have been surprised to have acquired zero points. But United look like they are finally fighting for survival under Steve Bruce. A nail biting but brilliant game to watch ASM was on form today despite being battered around the pitch by the West Ham players. Joelinton has had another good game today, it appears he has gained some confidence in recent weeks. Fantastic display and battlling for the Mags.

By Sam West

Howay The Lads!