Against a much-improved Hammers team under Graham Potter, the London Stadium offered a chance to move up the Premier League table, but one of Eddie Howe's key lieutenants made the difference all game long.
However, neither team produced much more than mediocre play in the first forty-five minutes of play in the capital, as they appeared hesitant to go into halftime behind by a goal.
Both teams were somewhat more upbeat for the second half, as is so frequently the case, but Bruno Guimarães of Newcastle broke the tie in the 63rd minute.
When Harvey Barnes' superbly chipped ball into the box was met by the Brazilian's outstretched leg, he turned around from just outside the penalty area and touched past Alphonse Areola from inside six yards to put the visitors away.
The 27-year-old midfield fulcrum scored his third goal of the season, and even though he fell short of his 2023–2024 goal total, his impact on the team's on-field performance is still crucial.
The former Lyon star would be relieved to avoid a hero-to-villain plot, but West Ham's claims of a penalty would be dismissed when VAR examined an incident in which Guimarães took down Jarrod Bowen in the box.
Potter's team failed to extend their winning streak to three consecutive games and, despite the even possession statistics, posed little threat for more than one or two moments.
With 47 points, Newcastle is currently tied with Manchester City in fifth position and only two points behind Chelsea, keeping them in the running for a spot in the Champions League.
West Ham, on the other hand, is still in 16th place but is very certain to stay there because they have a 16-point advantage over the bottom three.


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