THAT'S A LOP BETTER.LADS

Under-fire Julen's boost as Toon are blown howay

- SIMON BIRD

A REPRIEVE for under-pressure West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui after a near-perfect away performance.

But this was a big setback for Eddie Howe and Newcastle’s quest to put pressure on the top six.

Goals from Tomas Soucek and Aaron Wan-Bissaka earned the Hammers, and 3,700 travelling fans, a deserved away victory – the first on their travels since August.

After three consecutive wins, Newcastle wanted to close in on the elite but found the international break killed their momentum.

Pressure was growing on Lopetegui before this game with reports he had only two games to turn around a run of two wins in 10. He’s earned a few more in charge with this excellent result.

The Hammers stunned Newcastle with an early goal in each half, weathering an attacking storm by Howe’s men and exploiting defensive weakness.