PAQ WITH A BANG

Lucas leads by example to finally end home hoodoo

- BY LEE RYDER

LONG before the final whistle went, the despondent Toon Army chose to exit for an afternoon in the capital.

It was supposed to have been the other way round.

A planned protest by West Ham fans against their owners was replaced by the unexpected joy of one of the shock results of the weekend in the Premier League.

Lucas Paqueta's stunner, Sven Botman's own goal and Tomas Soucek's strike at the death saw the Hammers over the line, winning their first home game since February and their first under new manager Nuno Espirito Santo.

Newcastle looked out of sorts. Some sloppy defending and failure to make the most of things when on top leaves Eddie Howe with lots to think about.

It was the Hammers who almost struck first after just four minutes when Jarrod Bowen hit the post.

But just moments later, Bruno Guimaraes picked the ball up in the centre circle before rolling it wide to Jacob Murphy.

The forward - still harbouring hopes of an England call-up - cut in and thumped a shot from the right-hand side of the penalty area that left keeper Alphonse Areola with no chance.

Radio pundit and ex-Crystal Palace striker Clinton Morrison called it "Under-12's defending", which was an insult to 11-year-olds everywhere.