Newcastle’s impressive resurgence under Eddie Howe continued with a valuable draw at West Ham, moving them five points clear of the Premier League relegation zone.
Despite the fact that this result ended their recent three-game winning streak, Howe’s team has been unbeaten in the league since Christmas.
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West Ham’s Craig Dawson headed home Aaron Cresswell’s enticing free-kick after goalkeeper Martin Dubravka had earlier tipped a Jarrod Bowen effort onto the crossbar.
However, the visitors took advantage of a defensive lapse on the eve of half-time when Joe Willock guided a deft finish onto the far post and saw it sneak narrowly over the line.
Newcastle’s position is still at 17, but they are now five points ahead of Norwich, while West Ham missed out on a return to the Champions League and are now fifth.
Howe only won one of his first eight games as Newcastle manager, but he has three wins in five league games since the turn of the year, lifting the club out of the relegation zone.
This result came despite the absence of Kieran Trippier, who has made an immediate impact at St James’ Park, and electric winger Allan Saint-Maximin, arguably Howe’s two most important players.
But the Magpies manager found Willock and Joelinton in fine form, with the latter almost sneaking in at the back post early on during a nervy West Ham defending spell.
Despite their strong start, Newcastle appeared to be heading into the break down a goal, only for the usually assured Declan Rice to miscue a header into Willock’s path.
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The 22-year-old midfielder was alert and scored his first goal of the season from a tight angle after Hammers goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski was unable to clear his shot.
In a second half that saw both sides struggle to assert themselves, the former Arsenal midfielder also zipped a long-range effort wide in the pouring rain, and Newcastle will no doubt be happier with a point.
