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Ciaran Kelly

Newcastle's ominous warning, Eddie Howe rages and humiliating David Moyes chant - 5 things

Newcastle United have strengthened their grip on a place on the top four following a 5-1 win against West Ham at the London Stadium.

Callum Wilson got the ball rolling in the sixth minute before Joelinton doubled Newcastle's advantage a short while later. Kurt Zouma pulled one back for West Ham before Wilson, substitute Alexander Isak and Joelinton sealed a convincing victory in the capital as Newcastle scored five goals on the road in a Premier League game for the first time since 1998.

Here are five things we learned from the match.

READ MORE: West Ham vs Newcastle United highlights

Clinical Newcastle run riot as West Ham fans stream out

Newcastle, ominously, have played even better but the ruthless Magpies delivered another statement result after running riot at the London Stadium and scoring five goals

Callum Wilson opened the scoring in the sixth minute after the striker's header nestled in the corner following great work from Allan Saint-Maximin down the right. Newcastle were not done yet, though, and rather than trying to take the sting out of the game, the Magpies went in search of another. Fabian Schar's stunning diagonal caught West Ham's static backline napping in the 13th minute and the defender picked out the run of Joelinton, who cleverly played to the whistle, rounding Lukasz Fabianski, to put Newcastle 2-0 up. Although there was a VAR check for offside, the Brazilian was soon dropping to his knees in celebration after the goal was given.

Newcastle may have let West Ham back into it, with Kurt Zouma pulling one back before half-time, but the visitors soon grabbed a crucial third after the break when Jacob Murphy dispossessed Nayef Aguerd and unselfishly squared the ball to Wilson to make it 3-1 and substitute Alexander Isak scored an exquisite lob before Joelinton added a fifth late on.

Perhaps it said it all that thousands of West Ham fans missed both those goals. They had long streamed out of the stadium.

Howe rages at sloppy Newcastle but visitors recover in style

West Ham are not Manchester United, of course, but this was another timely test of Newcastle's top four credentials against a side who were fighting for their lives at the bottom. Fresh from a morale-boosting victory against relegation rivals Southampton, West Ham had plenty riding on this game and the London Stadium by no means an easy place to go. In fact, six of West Ham's seven league wins this season had come at home and David Moyes' side had not been beaten in their own backyard in the league since December.

You could quickly see why and West Ham came mightily close to taking the lead inside a minute. Jarrod Bowen raced past Dan Burn down the right and the forward's cross was turned onto the post by Bruno Guimaraes as the Brazil international slid in to block. It was a huge let-off for Newcastle, but the Magpies quickly recovered, with Wilson and Joelinton both scoring in the space of seven minutes.

However, sloppy Newcastle then let West Ham right back into it and Eddie Howe knew it as he raged at his players during a drinks break before the Hammers pulled one back a few minutes later. It was a poor goal for Newcastle to concede. Not only did Nick Pope flap at Jarrod Bowen's corner under pressure from Michail Antonio - Kurt Zouma was free to nod home at the back post after losing Sven Botman.

Newcastle regrouped at the break, though, and Wilson made it 3-1 in the 46th minute. This time, there was no danger of Newcastle throwing away a two-goal lead and Isak and Joelinton added the gloss.

Competition for places heats up as Wilson and Isak battle it out

In a way, this rare run of three games in six days was a preview of what potentially is coming down the line if Newcastle realise their European dream. No wonder Howe freshened up his side, then, as Joelinton made his first start in a month, coming in for Joe Willock, who felt his hamstring after firing Newcastle to a win against Manchester United. Callum Wilson, who sealed that 2-0 win against the Red Devils, also came in for record signing Alexander Isak after the Sweden international had played a lot of football for club and country in recent weeks. How apt, then, that Wilson and Joelinton both grabbed a double each to give Howe a welcome selection headache ahead for Saturday's trip to Brentofrd.

This squad will still need strengthening in the summer, but Newcastle have real competition for places at the moment - even without top scorer Miguel Almiron. You only had to take a glance at the bench at the London Stadium to realise that.

Eddie Howe knew those in reserve would play their part once more after his substitutes helped see Newcastle over the line in wins against Wolves, Nottingham Forest and Manchester United. Once again Howe was able to call upon a strong bench with Joe Willock, Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak all introduced in the 63rd minute as Newcastle pushed for more goals at 3-1 up. It was Isak who duly popped up with a stunning fourth.

David Moyes mercilessly taunted by away end

Callum Wilson's second goal left David Moyes with his hands on his knees in disbelief, but it was about to get even worse for the beleaguered West Ham boss. The former Sunderland boss was 'serenaded' with chants of 'You're getting sacked in the morning!' by the away end.

To think, a year ago, it was West Ham pushing for a place in Europe and Newcastle were in a relegation battle. Now Newcastle are three points clear of Spurs in third place, with a game in hand, and Howe's side are a whopping 10 points clear of Liverpool.

Bruno shines in battle against Paqueta

It is rare best friends are on opposing sides in a Premier League game, but that genuinely was the case on Wednesday night as Bruno Guimaraes came up against former Lyon team-mate Lucas Paqueta for the first time. Had Bruno had his way, Newcastle would have signed Paqueta last summer but such is the playmaker's character, he will have been desperate to win at the London Stadium - whether he was facing his pal or not.

Indeed, the pair had a bet with each other before this game was originally due to be played, only for it to be understandably rearranged following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, where the loser had to buy dinner in London and you suspect there were more than three points at stake once more. Newcastle certainly needed no reminding of Paqueta's qualities after the midfielder scored his first, and only, goal from open play for West Ham in the reverse fixture at St James' Park back in February.

Yet it was Bruno who ultimately had the big say on this game, popping up with two superb assists late on for Alexander Isak and Joelinton. The first, in particular, a stunning ball over the top, bamboozled Lukasz Fabianski, who got it all wrong when he rushed out.

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