Champions League hopefuls Newcastle United are hitting form at just the right time, and annihilated West Ham United on Wednesday.
Newcastle capitalised on poor West Ham defending to run out 5-1 winners at the London Stadium.
Thanks to goals from Joelinton and Callum Wilson, Newcastle were 2-0 up within 15 minutes. Kurt Zouma pulled one back, but West Ham never looked like getting back into the game.
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One goal from Isak and another each for Wilson and Joelinton made it five as Eddie Howe’s side re-discovered some of their early-season momentum.
After the season restarted, it appeared Newcastle’s challenge for fourth place had fizzled out. Manchester United, who beat them in the Carabao Cup final, had occupied third for most of the season.
However Erik ten Hag’s team have struggled of late, including at St. James’ Park where they lost 2 -0 on Sunday.
The race for fourth place is now wide open, with the Magpies and Manchester United in joint third on 53 points.
They are trailed by Tottenham on 50 points and Brighton on 46. Liverpool, Aston Villa and Brentford currently have an outside chance to qualify for the Champions League, but it looks like a fight between Newcaslte, United and Spurs.
Tottenham are demoralised in the wake of Antonio Conte’s departure and United are only the third best team in the league when Casimero plays.
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The Magpies are scoring goals again, which could be ominous for their competition. The new project on Tyneside is building a deliberately British team. While they’re always strong defensively, the Magpies’ goals had dried up in the middle of the season.
With Isak fully fit and players like Willock and Wilson hitting form, nobody will feel confident playing against them.
