6 mins: Henry Saivet headed back towards his own goal before inexplicably scuffing a dreadful sideways pass straight to Marko Arnautovic on the half way line who strode forwards. 

Ciaran Clark looked likely to get a challenge as the former Stoke player neared the Newcastle box, but was slow to turn, allowing the forward to shoot across Elliot into the far corner before indulging in the embarrassing Adam Ant 'Prince Charming' salute popular round these parts. 0-1

10 mins: A belated decision of a high boot by Winston Reid on Christian Atsu to the left hand side of the box saw play pulled back for a free kick after Matt Ritchie had wastefully blasted over.

Henri Saivet stepped up hit a superb curling right footed free-kick from 25 yards, beating Adrian low at his near post. The 'keeper seemed a long way over, possibly expecting a cross rather than a shot and had too much ground to cover but the kick was well-placed and hit with power. 1-1

Half time: Irons 1 Magpies 1

53 mins: Clark played a measured pass out to Atsu down the Newcastle left and he nutmegged Zabaletta before crossing for Mo Diame who opened up his body and blasted a right-footed effort into the top corner from eight yards out. Despite being at the end housing the away contingent, he avoided actively celebrating - presumably as a gesture towards his former club West Ham 2-1

(56 mins Andre Ayew missed a penalty - saved by Rob Elliot)

61 mins: The Magpies gained possession and broke at pace out of their own half after a ricochet off two home players after a West Ham corner was cleared. Dwight Gayle's superb pass found Atsu charging forward towards the left side and he opted to feed Joselu out on the left of the area. 

Atsu's pass was a little wide and the Spaniard evaded "dandy highwayman" Arnautovic before pulling the ball back. Christian Atsu continued his run and met the cross first time to slide in. 3-1

69 mins: Aaron Cresswell's corner from the West Ham left found recently-arrived substitute Andy Carroll powering past two defenders at the far post and his firm downward header was well saved by Rob Elliot. The ball fell loose and was lashed into the net by Andre Ayew - who had earlier missed a penalty - from inside the six yards box. 3-2

Full time: Irons 2 Magpies 3

 
Rafa - who kept himself fit by shuttling between the bench and the technical area - a not insignificant distance:
 
"It's difficult when you have a bad run. What was really important was to win, and to have a good performance against a good team. It is important not to be in the bottom three at any time, not just at Christmas.

"We were working so hard for so many games, we deserve a day like today. For the fans, it's fantastic.

"The game against Everton we hit the post twice. And today it was one of those days where I couldn't believe it would be the same again.

"We deserved to win. The performance of the team has been so good, it's a great feeling for us and the fans.

"I could not say too much before the game about the selection, because I knew (David) Moyes was listening, but we had problems with Merino and Hayden, and (Jonjo) Shelvey was suspended. 

"Henri is a good professional and trained really well - he was unlucky, but after he made the difference with his goal.

"Saivet understands the game. Technically, he's good and he can take free-kicks. Both he and Diame are from Senegal, so it was important they understood each other and they did really well.

"In terms of the club, you have to keep winning to be sure that you stay in the Premier League - that's the target.

"But for the fans this is about belief and showing we can win games and can compete.

"You can see the team spirit and work rate of different players, but it doesn't mean we don't still need players to compete at another level. They are different things."

David Moyes commented:

"Not a good one that's for sure. It was a game full of errors, I just keep looking at the goals we've conceded and the mistakes we've made.

"It was near enough right from the start. We got the goal - I think from a Newcastle mistake - but after we made two or three terrible mistakes which led to them scoring from a free-kick.

"All in all, it just seemed like that on the touchline. Mistake after mistake. We then missed a penalty at 2-1 which makes it even more difficult.

"Everyone knows how good Andy is. But we gave ourselves too much to do after conceding a farcical third goal.

"We have to try and get rid of the individual errors. We missed him at home. He's the one player who can do more on the ball and it was glaringly obvious we missed him here.

"It was going to be a test with expectations changing towards us winning, but it showed today that we could not do that.

"It was the manner of losing the goals. The third was a catastrophe, the way it came about. We don't score the penalty, and those things can make a big difference."
 

Christmas jumpers! A resurgent Newcastle leapt out of the bottom three with a memorable and unexpected victory in their first appearance at the London Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

It was an outcome that defied all the odds, especially after a stray pass from midfielder Henri Saivet after just six minutes set up Marko Arnautovic to stride forward and give the hosts the lead.

The forgotten man of the squad was playing his first league game in 22 months due to suspension of Jonjo Shelvey and fitness concerns over both Isaac Hayden and Mikel Merino.

But back came Newcastle - and Saivet - with a superb free-kick four minutes later, beating Adrian low at his near post to get the visitors back on terms.

With confidence flooding back, the Toon hit the woodwork twice before the break - Dwight Gayle crashed a shot off the bar before Matt Ritchie's superb curler came back off the inside of a post. 

West Ham themselves were guilty of missing chances at the other end though: goalkeeper Rob Elliot equal to an effort from Arthur Masuaku and Michail Antonio heading just wide when well-placed.

But in an amazing second half, Mo Diame soon put Newcastle ahead and the away followers were in a Winter wonderland when Elliot saved a penalty before Christian Atsu made it 3-1 to the visitors.

That 56th minute spot kick block was crucial to the victory, the custodian anticipating Andre Ayew's poor penalty - seemingly having taken advice from the Hammer's Ghanaian team mate, Atsu.

There was a measure of justice to that outcome, TV replays confirming Ciaran Clark's challenge on Antonio was outside the area - something that soon had the away bench remonstrating with the fourth official after they'd viewed footage of the incident.

When Ayew did get one back following a 69th minute corner - aided by recently-arrived substitute old boy Andy Carroll - it was easy to fear the worst for the Magpies, who had failed to hold a lead on three occasions during their winless nine game run.

However the visiting defence stood firm thereafter and a monumental effort saw the last 25 minutes completed without mishap, despite a continuation of the aerial bombardment that seemed be Plan A, B & C for a remarkably average side overseen by David Moyes. 

A bench featuring two left backs both lacking match fitness in the shape of Paul Dummett and Massadio Haidara saw Ayoze Perez introduced, but his lack of physical presence did nothing to settle our nerves as Newcastle struggled to maintain possession for more than a few seconds.

Chancel Mbemba then replaced Saivet in the closing moments, taking up a defensive midfield position that he's previously occupied internationally for DR Congo. 

Lee Mason's full time whistle was greeted with delirium on and off the pitch as a first victory in 10 games and two months was rightfully celebrated and savoured, as a festive soundtrack of "All I Want for Christmas" blared out across the rapidly-emptying stadium.

Newcastle's second away win of the season saw them climb to fifteenth in the table, above the Hammers, Crystal Palace and Bournemouth. Jingle bells indeed.

Biffa