Second half fightback sees Hammers enjoy afternoon on the Toon

Newcastle United 2 West Ham United 4 (four)

Great to hear the Hammers away fans in full voice again on Now TV though it's a poor very start from the Irons. Five minutes in Saint-Maximin twists and turns past Rice to get a cross in and the poorly-marked Wilson heads home. He always scores against us so we had been warned.

But as happened so often last season, we show character to bounce back. A nice patient move sees the ball worked to Cresswell, whose cross goes through a crowd of players and into the net. After a worrying VAR pause it's given as Bowen only touched the ball when it was already over the line. Bowen makes a great run to wriggle though the defence only to fire against Woodman's legs. Almiron's shot hits the bar, but it's the Irons looking the most likely to score, even if Saint-Maximin causes panic whenever he has the ball. 

But the good work is ruined just before the break when Ritchie's cross is headed home by the unmarked Murphy. Understandably Rice, Soucek and Coufal are looking a bit leggy after their Euro exertions and at half-time it seems evident that we need some signings to freshen up the squad.

The old West Ham would have lost this, but once Rice gets going a remarkable comeback ensues. Declan takes the ball off Saint-Maximin and feeds Bowen who finds Antonio, who does well to dig out a cross that is headed home by Said Behrahma. Always said the Algerian playmaker was deadly in the air.

It's soon 3-2 when Antonio heads Coufal's cross against the post and then Fornals is brought down. Antonio's penalty is saved but Soucek is alert enough to net the rebound. The fourth is a classic counter-attacking goal. Benrahma waits just long enough to play in the onrushing Antonio, who fires home a belter. 

Even Now TV experiencing technical difficulties for the final 20 minutes doesn't have me too worried. Under Moyes we know how to see out a game. Once Declan and the Czechs got going we looked much better and it's great for Benrahma's confidence to get a goal and an assist in the first match. We still need some signings — even if it does look like Harry Kane is holding out for a move to the Hammers. But this was carrying on where we left off last season and a performance of some character. Irons!