Newcastle United lost their opening Premier League game of the season yesterday 4-2 to West Ham United.
The Magpies started really well, scoring through Callum Wilson inside five minutes.
Aaron Cresswell then equalised but Jacob Murphy restored the lead shortly before half-time.
The Hammers then got their act together in the second-half, and scored three goals in 13 minutes to stun the hosts.
The awarding of the penalty on Pablo Fornals for the third West Ham goal was extremely harsh, and ultimately gave Newcastle too much too do.
West Ham taking the lead for the first time in the game seemed to flatten the Magpies.
Newcastle’s standout on the day was arguably Allan Saint-Maximin.
Not for the first time, the Frenchman dazzled with his ball-carrying ability, and it was he that set up Wilson for the opening goal, beating Declan Rice multiple times before crossing for his strike partner.
He didn’t deserve to be the end of a defeat, and this morning he has reacted to the result.
He wrote: “Very disappointed with yesterday’s result. We go again next week.”
On the Instagram version of the post there were lots of responses, including from new signing Joe Willock and ex-Magpie Jetro Willems.
Next week, Newcastle take on Aston Villa, who also lost their opening game (3-2 against Watford).
Saint-Maximin’s bright start
Newcastle may have lost the game yesterday, but there were some positives to take.
The form of Saint-Maximin perhaps being the biggest.
He was electric in that first-half, and his connection with Wilson is going to be key for Newcastle going forwards.
If he and his striker partner can just stay fit, then Newcastle will always have chances to score goals and win games.
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