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By CRAIG HOPE Published: 08: 55 AEDT, 11 March 2025 | Updated: 10: 56 AEDT, 11 March 2025 26 View comments Maybe it must be that gritty and not pretty is Newcastle United's best hope of ending their 70-year wait for a domestic trophy. Gone are the swashbuckling days of Christmas and New Year, when they attacked with energy and intent during a nine-match winning run. Individually they aren't at that level now, but could it be that collectively a new spirit has been born? Eddie Howe had hoped that the adversity of last week - the loss of Anthony Gordon to suspension and Lewis Hall and Sven Botman to injury - would engender a siege mentality among his players. And through the ugliness of this win, Howe would have seen the beauty of that togetherness. Wembley is only 14 miles from here and, from a quality perspective, you could argue this was light years from where Newcastle will need to be if they're to beat Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday. But they defended resolutely - one scare apart inside the first minute - and the combination of scorer Bruno Guimaraes and creator Harvey Barnes for the only goal was a reminder that match-winners do exist within their number. Alexander Isak was quiet, but he also emerged unscathed. Expect him to be a different prospect at the weekend. 'In a final, anything can happen, ' said Guimaraes. 'For us it's like the World Cup (final)! ' Bruno Guimaraes scored the only goal of the game as Newcastle beat West Ham Guimaraes pounced from close range midway through the second half of the match The midfielder's strike was enough to claim all three points and close in on the top four Guimaraes wheels away in celebration after breaking the deadlock at the London Stadium This, though, was a long way from the World Cup. For the large part, it was like watching a pre-season friendly, only minus the nice weather. 'When does the Premier League football start? ', you wondered after an hour of goalless and joyless inaction. England boss Thomas Tuchel was here, yet he too would have been wondering why. This felt like one to watch from the sofa in Germany - at least you can turn a TV off. But Newcastle found a way to win thanks to the game's two best players, Barnes supplying the cute cross for Guimaraes to apply an even cuter finish in the 63rd minute. 'It was a massive win, ' said Howe. 'It wasn't our best game, but one of our best games, for me. We dug in, we were disciplined. We defended our goal magnificently. It was a challenging week and this was a big response. We needed the players to empty the tank to win and to show we are still competitive. You only get belief from winning. ' Despite Newcastle's togetherness showing itself as the game wore on, they nearly fell apart inside 45 seconds. Tomas Soucek's miss was so early that he no doubt hoped the water left to flow would wash over his howler. But this was too bad to forget. Fabian Schar allowed Mohammed Kudus to cross and Tino Livramento's wild clearance played in Soucek. The Czech had only Nick Pope to beat from six yards. He beat the goalkeeper all right, but he also beat the crossbar and a few hundred folk in the low rows, too. If this was Newcastle's cup-final blueprint, you could not imagine Mo Salah forgoing that sort of generosity. Darwin Nunez, perhaps. But Salah could wait - the more immediate concern was Kudus and Jarrod Bowen, both of whom drew saves from Pope before the half hour. Easy saves, it should be said. At the other end, Barnes did make Alphonse Areola work a little harder. The winger turned one improvised flick on target and did the same with a header from a corner, both repelled by the French keeper. Areola was sporting a new Freddie Mercury moustache and had the boot-polish barnet to complete the look. That, however, was as close as the first half got to entertainment. Alexander Isak (left) didn't have his usual impact as Newcastle laboured to victory It was another disappointing night for the Hammers in front of their home supporters Graham Potter (left) and Eddie Howe shared a few words after the full-time whistle West Ham (5-3-2): Areola 7; Wan-Bissaka 6, Todibo 6 (Mavropanos 65, 6) , Kilman 7, Cresswell 6 (Ferguson 69, 6), Scarles 6; Soucek 5 (Paquetá 65, 6), Ward-Prowse 6, Alvarez 5. 5 (Soler 65, 6); Kudus 6. 5, Bowen 6. 5 Subs: Fabianski, Emerson, , Rodríguez, Guilherme, Ings, Ferguson Manager: Graham Potter 5 Scorers: Newcastle (4-3-3): Pope 6. 5; Trippier 7, Schar 6, Burn 6, Livramento 5. 5; Guimaraes 7. 5, Tonali 6, Joelinton 6; Murphy 5. 5, Isak 6, Barnes 7 Subs: Dubravka, Targett, Willock, Krafth, Wilson, Neave, Longstaff, Osula, Miley Manager: Eddie Howe 6 Scorer: Guimaraes 63 Bookings: Burn MOM: Guimaraes Referee: Michael Salisbury 7 The game was there for the taking, but that was dependent on one of these sides showing something good enough to take it. Isak was isolated and touched the ball only three times in West Ham's penalty area come the break. That count actually felt excessive, given how little he had been involved. It said much about the contest that, when Newcastle then came very close to scoring on the hour, it was because of West Ham defender Max Kilman's miskick. In fairness, Guimaraes' ball in behind for Jacob Murphy was a rare moment of quality that was well executed. The winger centred and Kilman sent a clumsy swipe spiralling towards the top corner, where Areola sprung to claw clear before Isak turned over from the rebound. The passage snapped the visitors from their slumber and, within two minutes, they had their winner. Barnes saw a scuffed shot blocked and, deterred by that effort, he elected to cross when the ball landed back at his feet. It was the right call. Hanging a delivery above Kilman and dropping it inside the six-yard area, Guimaraes slid in to poke home. It was a goal and it was a win - returning Newcastle to sixth and level on points with Manchester City in fifth - but it was also a game that would have made relatively comfortable viewing for Liverpool, even if it was anything but for the majority of others.
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