Alan Smith instantly reacts to West Ham v Newcastle penalty controversy
West Ham United are arguably lucky to still be goalless against Newcastle after a controversial incident in the first half.
The Irons went into the break level at 0-0 with Newcastle in Monday’s Premier League meeting at the London Stadium, having been dominated on and off the ball for much of the opening 45 minutes.
Graham Potter named an unchanged starting XI for the first time in his tenure after West Ham’s 2-0 over Leicester City last time out, but his side are yet to really fire in attack against Newcastle thus far.
Keeping the Magpies at bay and finding a winner at the other end would make it three victories and clean sheets in a row for West Ham, but they’ve already come close to conceding in controversial fashion.
Smith agrees with referee on West Ham v Newcastle controversy
In a game of fine margins thus far, it’s Newcastle who have come closest to finding the opener, and could have done from the penalty spot had Tomas Soucek been penalised for a lunge in his own box.
| West Ham | Statistic | Newcastle |
| 0 | Goals | 0 |
| 0.36 | xG | 0.46 |
| 2 | Shots on Target | 2 |
| 41 per cent | Possession | 59 per cent |
| 0 | Corners | 2 |
After Alphonse Areola had parried Harvey Barnes’ shot, Newcastle stayed forward and Bruno Guimaraes went down under pressure from Soucek in the box, but commentator Alan Smith wasn’t having any of it.
On Sky Sports Premier League (10 March, 8:21pm), Smith said: “They’re turning up the heat here, Newcastle. Soucek with an outstretched leg – not enough to go against the ref there, nowhere near.
“Just lost their way haven’t they, West Ham? The ball keeps coming back, and [they] could have been a goal down.”
Graham Potter needs more from West Ham v Newcastle
Though Potter has shown faith in the starting sides which have delivered back-to-back wins over Arsenal and Leicester in recent weeks, West Ham are yet to repay that faith with Newcastle firmly on top.
Soucek being penalised for that challenge on Guimaraes would have been a cruel injustice for the Irons – albeit one likely to be overturned by VAR as stated by Smith – but he can’t afford to be reckless.
Newcastle’s eyes will likely be on Sunday’s League Cup Final against Liverpool and Eddie Howe could look to rest some of his key men in the second half – giving the Hammers a potential advantage.
However, based on their play in the opening 45 minutes, it may fall to substitutes like Evan Ferguson, Lucas Paqueta and Danny Ings to break this game open for Potter’s so-far below-par West Ham side.