Newcastle matched Man City’s points in the Premier League, strengthening their Champions League ambitions with a crucial 1-0 victory over West Ham. This win provides a vital confidence boost ahead of their Carabao Cup final against Liverpool on Sunday, despite recent setbacks, including injuries to Sven Botman and Lewis Hall and Anthony Gordon’s suspension.
Bruno Guimarães secured the win in the 64th minute, converting a cross from Harvey Barnes. However, West Ham protested the goal, arguing that Alexander Isak pushed Max Kilman from an offside position. “It’s frustrating from our perspective,” said West Ham manager Graham Potter. “It looked like a clear push.”
Barnes had earlier tested Hammers goalkeeper Alphonse Areola, who made impressive saves to keep his side in the game. Meanwhile, West Ham missed key opportunities, with Tomas Soucek and Mohammed Kudus failing to capitalize on scoring chances. Despite coming into the match with back-to-back wins against Arsenal and Leicester, they fell short this time.
Reflecting on the victory, Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimarães emphasized their determination. “It’s a massive win. We want to fight for the Champions League again. Keeping a clean sheet and securing three points restores our confidence before the final. At our best, we can beat any team in the world.”
