Lewis Hall sends ‘really difficult’ message to fans after Newcastle lose to West Ham

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Newcastle United endured a miserable return to domestic action after the international break.

After winning three consecutive games before the break, optimism was high heading into Monday’s Premier League clash with West Ham.

Newcastle, however, largely fluffed their lines against the Hammers and fell to a 2-0 defeat at St James’ Park.

Granted, Eddie Howe’s side may feel as if they should have a had penalty when Callum Wilson was brought down in the box by Konstantinos Mavropanos but they cannot point to solely that as a reason for the reversal.

Not many of Howe’s players impressed on the night and Newcastle looked worryingly short of ideas towards the closing stages of the game.

It was a bitterly disappointing night for the team, who must find a quick-fire improvement down at Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Lewis Hall sends message to Newcastle fans after West Ham defeat

Such was the disappointment, Lewis Hall sent a message to supporters after the game.

Hall said (via BBC Sport): “It’s a really difficult one to take. It was a massive game for us. We’d have been two points off second if we won.

“It was a frustrating game for us. We had a lot of the ball. When you are on top, you have to find a way to put the ball in the net, which we didn’t do today.

“We know we can score goals. This season, we’ve defended better than we’ve attacked. But last season, we attacked better than we defended. It’s about doing both.

“My message to the fans is to stick with us. Everyone works so hard throughout the week.”

Lewis Hall was a rare bright spark for Newcastle against West Ham

Hall was one of only a few Newcastle players who actually impressed on the night, although that’s not likely to make him feel much better about the defeat.

Still, it continues a fine run of form for the defender, who recently became a fully-fledged England international.

In a maddeningly frustrating season for Newcastle, Hall is looking like someone Howe can regularly rely on. That has to be seen as a positive, particularly given how the defender’s Newcastle career started.

If more of his teammates can get to his level on a consistent basis, perhaps Newcastle wouldn’t be following up a great run of results with such a disappointing defeat.

Still, little about this season so far suggests that’s a realistic possibility any time soon…