Newcastle United kept their Champions League hopes alive with a dramatic 1-0 victory over West Ham on Monday, thanks to a second-half goal from Bruno Guimaraes.
The Brazilian midfielder struck the decisive blow amid heated protests from West Ham players, who claimed a foul in the build-up. However, VAR waved off their appeals, allowing Eddie Howe’s men to celebrate a crucial three points.
The win lifts Newcastle to sixth place in the Premier League, level on points with fifth-placed Manchester City and just two behind Chelsea in fourth. With a top-four finish guaranteeing Champions League football next season—and even fifth potentially enough—Newcastle are firmly back in the race.
The victory comes at a crucial time, especially after three defeats in their last four matches. It also serves as a confidence boost ahead of their League Cup final showdown against Liverpool at Wembley on Sunday. The Magpies are eager to end their long wait for silverware, with their last major trophy dating back to 1969.
West Ham started the game strongly, buoyed by an emotional pre-match moment as Michail Antonio, still recovering from a car crash injury, made his first appearance at the London Stadium since the incident.
Graham Potter’s side had their chances early on, with Tomas Soucek missing a golden opportunity just seconds into the match. The Hammers continued to press, but Newcastle’s resilience paid off.
Harvey Barnes, filling in for the suspended Anthony Gordon, tested West Ham keeper Alphonse Areola with two powerful efforts, while Jacob Murphy’s dangerous delivery nearly led to an own goal from Max Kilman.
Ultimately, Newcastle’s breakthrough came in the 63rd minute when Barnes kept his composure to float a cross into the box, allowing Guimaraes to stab the ball home. West Ham furiously protested that Alexander Isak had pushed Kilman, but the referee saw no wrongdoing.
As the Hammers pushed for an equalizer, Jarrod Bowen went down in the box under pressure from Guimaraes, but his penalty appeals were waved away, sealing a frustrating night for the hosts.
With the victory, Newcastle have sent a clear message—they are not backing down in the race for a top-four finish.
