Neville Blasts Newcastle's Performance After West Ham Defeat ###

 Neville Seethes After Newcastle's Defeat at West Ham

Gary Neville, the former Manchester United legend, left Sunday's Premier League match between West Ham United and Newcastle United "really angry" after witnessing Newcastle's lackluster performance. The Magpies suffered a 3-1 setback at the London Stadium, extending their winless away run in the league to seven months.

Newcastle began the encounter strongly, taking an early lead through Jacob Murphy in the fourth minute. However, the momentum quickly shifted in West Ham's favor. Lucas Paqueta equalized for the Hammers just before halftime, while Newcastle defender Sven Botman inadvertently scored an own goal, handing the hosts the lead. The match was sealed in the eighth minute of stoppage time when Tomas Soucek netted West Ham's third goal.

Neville, who appeared as a pundit for NBC Sports, was scathing in his post-match analysis. "They made me really angry," he declared. "In the last 20 minutes of the first half, and certainly in the second half, they didn't have a shot for a long time. I thought they really let the manager down, who is fantastic. If you drop your effort and intensity, you're going to get found out very quickly in this league. And they've been found out today like you wouldn't believe."

Neville went further, accusing the Newcastle players of being "lethargic" and "leggy," while also lambasting their attitude. The former defender emphasized the importance of mental fortitude in the Premier League, pointing out that the gap between top and bottom teams is significant but can be bridged by consistent effort.

Howe's Frustration Reflects Neville's Concerns

Eddie Howe, Newcastle's manager, was equally frustrated with his side's performance. In his post-match press conference, Howe admitted that the team had fallen short of his expectations. "I don't think it looked like a Newcastle team that we've seen in recent seasons," he said. "The body language, the collective spirit on the pitch, loads of little things that contribute to our performance, wasn't there."

Howe attributed the poor display to a mental lapse rather than tactical or technical issues. "I don't think that was tactical and I don't think that was necessarily technical. It was a by-product of us just not being where we needed to be mentally," he explained. His comments echoed Neville's sentiment that effort and attitude had been lacking.

 West Ham Secures First Win Under Santo

For West Ham, the victory was a much-needed boost under new manager Nuno Espirito Santo, who secured his first home win since taking charge. The Hammer's performance was praised for its resilience and tactical discipline, which contrasted sharply with Newcastle's uninspired display.

The match highlighted the challenges Newcastle face as they strive to maintain their status in the Premier League. With just three points from their past six away games, the Magpies will need to address their issues quickly if they are to avoid a deeper slump in the table.

 Looking Ahead

As Newcastle prepares for its next fixtures, the club faces a critical period in its season. The team will need a swift turnaround in form and morale to avoid falling further down the league standings. Meanwhile, West Ham will look to build on their hard-fought win and continue their upward trajectory under Espirito Santo.

The clash between West Ham and Newcastle provided a stark reminder of the high stakes and intensity of the Premier League, where mental fortitude and consistent effort are essential for success.