West Ham 2-2 Newcastle: Player ratings as late Kudus strike earns Hammers point

Mohammed Kudus' first Premier League goal earned West Ham a late point against Newcastle on Sunday after Alexander Isak's brace.

Tomas Soucek tapped in before Isak struck twice at the start of the second half, but Kudus netted in the 89th minute to deny the Magpies a fourth straight league win.

How the game unfolded

Newcastle started with more purpose but West Ham struck against the early run of play to take the lead.

Lucas Paqueta's flick was raced onto by Emerson Palmieri, who rounded an overly eager Nick Pope to get to the byline. With the goalkeeper out of the picture, Soucek powered in his fourth goal in six games in all competitions.

The visitors, who tore Paris Saint-Germain apart in midweek Champions League action, stayed patient but didn't go close to an equaliser until a 25-yard effort from Miguel Almiron fizzed wide of the left-hand post just before the half-hour mark.

A few minutes later, Dan Burn, one of the scorers against PSG, met Kieran Trippier's dangerous set-piece delivery but couldn't divert it into the back of the net.

West Ham's deep-sitting approach worked in the first half as they retained their lead at the break, but a quick comeback at the start of the second period saw Newcastle surge into a 2-1 lead.

The Magpies failed to register a shot in target in the opening 45 minutes but, shortly after Edson Alvarez nodded just wide from James Ward-Prowse's cross, Isak grabbed his first to bring his side level.

Trippier's free-kick ended up at the Sweden international's feet via a deflection off Alvarez and his finish soared past Alphonse Areola to make it 1-1.

It was another Trippier delivery from out wide that helped put Newcastle ahead in the 62nd minute. Bruno Guimareas floated a pass out to the England defender whose volley back across goal found Isak to prodded in unmarked.

Isak came close to netting his first Newcastle hat-trick shortly after, but his strike from a tight angle hit the near post and bounced behind off Nayef Aguerd after he had latched onto a long ball.

However, West Ham managed to hang in the game until the final few minutes, where substitute Mohammed Kudus stole the show with his first league goal for the club since his summer move from Ajax.

The Ghanian collected Vladimir Coufal's pass on the edge of the box and lashed a shot which Pope couldn't get down quick enough to keep out at his near post.

The Hammers looked to steal all three points during the six minutes of stoppage time at the end of the second half and the previously quiet Bowen came alive, dancing into the box before his effort was tipped away from goal by Pope.

West Ham player ratings (4-2-3-1)

GK: Alphonse Areola - 6/10 - A handful of decent stops. His kicking was somewhat awry.

RB: Vladimir Coufal - 7/10 - Typically combative performance from the right-back, who also assisted Kudus as West Ham nicked a point.

CB: Kurt Zouma - 5/10 - A bit too sloppy in possession, only completing 60 per cent of his passes.

CB: Nayef Aguerd - 6/10 - Guilty of going to sleep when Isak pounced twice in quick succession.

LB: Emerson Palmieri - 6/10 - Cool and composed to grab an assist for Soucek's strike and was later booked.

CM: Tomas Soucek - 7/10 - Got into the box to tap in an easy opener for West Ham.

CM: Edson Alvarez - 6/10 - The ball disappointingly ricocheted off him to Isak when Newcastle drew level.

RW: Jarrod Bowen - 7/10 - Looked threatening when West Ham countered quickly but his threat waned before nearly nicking the points at the end.

AM: James Ward-Prowse - 6/10 - Played a fair bit deeper than expected. Delivered some dangerous crosses but disappointed with some strikes from distance.

LW: Lucas Paqueta - 6/10 - Nice pass led to Soucek's strike. Strangely won joint-game high of six headers alongside Lascelles.

ST: Michail Antonio - 6/10 - Helped unsettle Newcastle's backline with persistent running but faded from the game.

Substitutes

Said Benrahma (76' for Antonio) - 6/10

Mohammed Kudus (76' for Soucek) - 7/10 - Great strike from the edge of the box earned West Ham a point.

Subs not used: Pablo Fornals, Maxwel Cornet, Danny Ings, Angelo Ogbonna,Thilo Kehrer, Divin Mubama, Joseph Tetteh Anag.

Manager

David Moyes - 7/10 - West Ham fell apart slightly in the second half but Moyes' substitutions paid off with Kudus netting his first league goal for the club.

Newcastle player ratings (4-3-3)

GK: Nick Pope - 4/10 - Went a bit Bilbo Baggins on the hunt for adventure before Emerson rounded him easily and squared for Soucek. Decent save to deny Bowen in added time.

RB: Kieran Trippier - 8/10 - Given time and space to deliver dangerous crosses. His assist for Isak's second goal showcased his technical brilliance.

CB: Jamaal Lascelles - 7/10 - Some rugged clearances at the back and improved after a bit of a sleepy start.

CB: Fabian Schar - 7/10 - Never got the chance to attempt a replica of his strike against PSG but used the ball efficiently and was solid enough.

LB: Dan Burn - 7/10 - His enormous height was again a threat in West Ham's box, coming close to getting on the scoresheet once more.

CM: Sean Longstaff - 5/10 - Off his game in the first half, looking rushed and erratic in possession.

CM: Bruno Guimaraes - 6/10 - Lovely ball over the top to Trippier helped Newcastle go ahead. Couldn't deliver many more moments of quality.

CM: Sandro Tonali - 6/10 - A bit guilty alongside Guimaraes and Longstaff of allowing West Ham too much space.

RW: Miguel Almiron - 4/10 - Didn't show much attacking threat.

ST: Alexander Isak - 9/10 - Showed his poacher instincts to net twice, taking his league tally to six for the season. Looked dangerous when running in behind.

LW: Elliot Anderson - 6/10 - A few mazy dribbles caught the eye but Anderson did struggle to retain possession on occasion.

Substitutes

Jacob Murphy (82' for Almiron - N/A

Callum Wilson (86' for Isak) - N/A

Matt Targett (90' for Anderson) - N/A

Manager

Eddie Howe - 6/10 - Newcastle struggled for fluency in the first half but got themselves into a winning position through Isak. They couldn't see it out for a fourth league win on the trot, however.

Player of the match - Alexander Isak (Newcastle)

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