Newcastle United claimed a 1-0 victory over West Ham United in the Premier League, with Bruno Guimaraes scoring the decisive goal.
Manager Eddie Howe hailed it as one of their finest triumphs this season.
The Monday night result at the London Stadium has boosted the Magpies’ Champions League push and their morale ahead of the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool.
Guimaraes pounced just past the hour mark, stretching to convert a pinpoint cross from Harvey Barnes and breaking a stubborn West Ham resistance.
Howe praised the team’s resolve, saying, “This was one of our best wins of the season, not for performance, but for desire and heart. All the big ingredients you need to be successful were there. We had to win when it was tight, and we found a way to get over the line.”
He added, “After the first three minutes, which were a bit scary, we defended really well. It was a deserved win.”
The match had started with West Ham on the front foot, riding the momentum of back-to-back clean-sheet victories in the league. Within the opening minute, Tomas Soucek squandered a golden chance, firing over from close range after Newcastle’s defense hesitated.
The Magpies weathered that early storm and grew into the contest, with Barnes twice denied by sharp saves from West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola before the break.
The second half saw both teams struggle to carve out clear openings until Barnes’ moment of quality unlocked the game. Guimaraes’ finish sparked wild celebrations among the traveling fans, though West Ham felt aggrieved shortly afterward when a penalty shout for a challenge on Jarrod Bowen by the goalscorer was waved away.
Despite late pressure from the hosts, Newcastle held firm, with Howe singling out Barnes and Tino Livramento, who impressed at left-back, for their contributions. “Harvey did very well today with a lovely cross, and Tino looked good,” he said.
The victory has lifted Newcastle’s spirits as they prepare to face Liverpool at Wembley on Sunday. Howe admitted the timing was perfect: “I felt we needed a win to go into the final with a real boost. This will do us the world of good, both for confidence and our league position.”
Reflecting on the looming cup final, he added, “These games can feel like a long wait with everyone talking about it, but we’ve had massive matches to focus on. I’m pleased it’s here now, and hopefully, we can perform well.”
Recent updates from Newcastle’s official X account confirmed the squad’s focus has already shifted to the weekend, with a post on Tuesday reading, “All eyes on Sunday. Time to recover and prepare for the big one.”
Guimaraes, meanwhile, shared his delight with fans online, posting, “What a win! Huge effort from the lads—now we go again for the final!”
For West Ham, the defeat marked a missed opportunity to secure three consecutive Premier League wins for the first time since 2023. Graham Potter’s side remains stuck in 16th, unable to capitalise on their early promise as Newcastle’s grit and guile proved the difference on the night. With the Magpies now turning their attention to silverware, this result could prove a defining moment in their season.
