West Ham recorded a desperately needed victory and acquired perhaps just a modicum of belief in their battle against relegation as they picked off a surprisingly meek Newcastle in east London.

A Tomas Soucek ram-raid in second-half added time put the seal on a victory that was earned with a determined first-half display, with Nuno Espírito Santo’s face a barometer for his team’s fortunes. From gritting his teeth furiously after a fourth-minute concession, the West Ham manager was smiling by half-time, and roaring as the final whistle blew. Likewise, a crowd that had struggled even to be frustrated earlier in the match, had now found its voice.

The London Stadium was treated to a constant cascade of action in the opening half, though it took the home fans a fair time to warm to what was in front of them. And fair enough, with the opening exchanges explaining any reluctance towards enthusiasm as West Ham almost opened the scoring, only to fall behind some 30 seconds later.

The sequence began with the home side winning possession on the edge of their own box and Crysencio Summerville combining with El Hadji...