Following back-to-back wins over Arsenal and Leicester City, the Hammers were looking to make it a hat-trick of Premier League victories for the first time since December 2023.
But recalled Magpies midfielder Bruno Guimarães struck a controversial 63rd-minute decider to end Graham Potter’s hopes of seeing his side leapfrog Everton, Manchester United and Tottenham in the table.
“I feel for the players because they put in a committed performance tonight,” admitted the Hammers head coach on an evening when the visitors climbed into the European qualification places to go level on points with fifth-placed Manchester City.
“Newcastle are a top team and you have to give them credit for their physicality and the intensity with which they defend.”
It might have been a totally different story had Tomáš Souček not skied over from all of six yards in the opening minute or if Edson Álvarez could have converted from close-range soon after.
“We started well but then the game began to ebb and flow and both teams had their moments,” continued Potter, who saw Alphonse Areola athletically deny Harvey Barnes twice before the break.
“We found ourselves having to defend at times and, overall, just didn’t do enough to win the game.”
Following a goalless first half, Areola pulled off another stunning stop on the hour to save the blushes of Max Kilman, who had deflected an awkward Guimarães cross goalwards, but West Ham’s luck finally ran out moments later.
With Barnes clipping a clever left-wing cross towards the far post, Alexander Isak nudged Kilman over, leaving the stretching Guimarães to prod home his third strike of the season from a couple of yards.
“Their goal was frustrating,” grimaced Potter clearly puzzled by the absence of any Video Assistant Referee intervention.
“There were two hands on the back of our defender and you could tell by the fact Isak didn’t celebrate that he thought it was a push.
“We’d defended well and I’m really disappointed we ended up conceding a goal. Aaron Wan-Bissaka continued to display the quality he’s shown during these past few weeks both in defence and attack, while Ollie Scarles gave everything again tonight – he showed courage to take the ball, he was committed in his tackles and his concentration levels remained high too.”
Hammers frustration was also compounded later on, when both captains collided in the area with Jarrod Bowen being bundled to the floor by the unpunished Guimarães.
“Sometimes you’ll have nights where things don’t go your way,” contended the philosophical Potter, who ended up introducing all five substitutes in a fruitless bid to get something from the contest.
“We didn’t sustain our attacking play for long enough and, like I say, didn’t deserve to win but I still take heart from the fact that I’ve got a good squad of players who are gradually coming back from injury.”
Standing level on points with David Moyes’ rejuvenated Everton, 16th-placed West Ham now travel to Goodison Park for the last-ever time on Saturday (3pm).