Graham Potter Eddie Howe
(Credit: Imago)
Jonathan Burnett
Mon 10 March 2025 22:20, UK
West Ham United’s 1-0 defeat to Newcastle on Monday produced one “miraculous” moment which left Alan Smith awestruck on Sky Sports.
Graham Potter’s side were sluggish throughout compared to their performances against Arsenal and Leicester last time out, seeing their run of victories and clean sheets in those two cames come to an end.
A drab first half – in which one noteworthy incident was a non-starter of a penalty shout against Tomas Soucek – gave way to a second dominated by Newcastle, with Bruno Guimaraes finding the winner.
The Brazilian’s close-range volley beat Alphonse Areola at the far post of a crowded West Ham box in the 63rd minute, coming minutes after the Irons goalkeeper was called into action quite spectacularly.
West Ham manager Graham Potter.
Graham Potter’s side couldn’t find a way to keep the Magpies at bay (Credit: Imago)
Areola produces ‘miraculous’ West Ham moment v Newcastle
With the game still finely poised at 0-0 despite the Magpies applying increasing pressure on West Ham’s defence for much of the opening hour, it was Areola who produced arguably the moment of the match.
West Ham Statistic Newcastle
0 Goals 1
0.45 xG 1.38
2 / 9 Shots on Target 3 / 9
51 per cent Possession 49 per cent
3 Corners 4
West Ham were a thorough second-best against Newcastle on Monday
MORE WEST HAM STORIES
A cross flashed across the face of goal by Jacob Murphy took a wicked deflection off Aaron Cresswell, requiring the Frenchman to dive backwards at speed and somehow clasp the ball out of the goalmouth.
Speaking on Sky Sports Premier League (10 March, 9:18pm), commentator Smith said: “That’s miraculous from Areola, it really is – as good as you’re going to see.
“Clawed it off the goal-line, looked for all the world as if he was beaten here. Have a look at this!
“He’ll be enjoying watching this tonight; messy defending, but not from Areola – that is superb.”
Alphonse Areola, West Ham
Alphonse Areola defied gravity to prevent Aaron Cresswell gifting Newcastle the opener [Credit: Imago]
Areola heroics can’t save West Ham v Newcastle
Having produced the save of a lifetime to prevent Newcastle finding the opener at the London Stadium, Areola will have hoped that his defence could match that level of desperation to hold firm for West Ham.
As it was, the 32-year-old was picking the ball out of his net barely 60 seconds later after the Hammers failed to deal with Harvey Barnes’ cross from the left, allowing Guimaraes to swoop in and prod home.
Both Areola and Lukasz Fabianski have been required to bail West Ham out of defensive mishaps on several occasions this season, but there’s only so much a ‘keeper can do when his defence switches off.
Potter even started with a back five in defence for the second game running with an eye on containing Newcastle’s free-flowing attack, and despite doing so for the first hour, that decision didn’t pay off.
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