Player ratings West Ham v Newcastle

West Ham won for the first time in four matches on Saturday after grinding out a 1-0 victory over in form Newcastle United. It wasn’t a particularly pretty affair, but the result, courtesy of Aaron Cresswell’s first goal in a Claret and Blue shirt, has lifted the Hammers up to a credible fifth position in the table going into a packed December fixture list.

West Ham fans will be encouraged by the fact that there is enough strength in depth within the squad to win games against decent opposition, even with a lot of key players missing through injury. Indeed, in contrast to the other wins during this campaign, which were notable for all the attacking flair and dynamism on display, the game versus Newcastle showed another side to Hammers game; gritty determination and defensive solidity in order to edge out the Geordies in a tight contest. The whole team contributed with good honest hard-working displays, which will be reflected in the player ratings below.
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