Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer(Image: Getty Images)

Newcastle United's first half performance was 'terrible' and then they backed it up with an 'awful' second half display in their 3-1 defeat to West Ham United.

That was the frank verdict of Magpies legend Alan Shearer as he did not hold back with his criticism on social media following the defeat. The club's record goalscorer also called the players 'lazy' in a damning verdict on what was a terrible afternoon for the side.

Jacob Murphy fired Newcastle into a fourth minute lead but Lucas Paqueta got West Ham back on level terms when his long range effort somehow squeezed past Nick Pope.

Sven Botman then put the goal into his own net to give the struggling Hammers, who looked devoid of confidence heading into this match, a 2-1 lead at half-time.

And Shearer was not happy as he ripped into Newcastle at the interval.

"What [a] terrible first half from Newcastle," Shearer posted on X. "Sloppy and leggy. Too many errors."

Eddie Howe made plenty of changes in the second half but it failed to...