TF Player Ratings - West Ham 0-1 Newcastle Utd

Scott has your player ratings on a night when the result was very much more important than the performance

Nick Pope - 6. A few moments when you wondered what the hell he was doing, like when he wandered out to take a 40 yard free kick only for Schär to ignore him leaving him exposed in the middle of nowhere. Kicking and punching were average but what he did supremely well and something Dúbravka really has to work on, is going down for a non existent injury when the opposition is on top. He's the master at it.

Tino Livramento - 5. Like most of our team, Livramento had his most hairy moment before a minute was up. A wild hack at a clearance ended up in the inevitable slice straight to Soucek who missed an absolute sitter. After that he went on to have a so-so game, never really looking that comfortable and got a bollocking off Barnes for ruining a promising looking move with a crap pass. When Barnes is dishing it out you know you are in a bit of a slumber, something which, if we are honest, Livramento has been in for a few weeks now.

Fabian Schär - 5. Like the above, the skinning he got off Bowen in the opening seconds was about as tough as it got for Schär. For a player under pressure a tad lately, this was the perfect game. An opposition hell bent on going backwards and one which, despite ending the pitch with five attackers on, didn't put any pressure on. It didn't happen with the ball tonight, but this game was all about doing the basics - which mostly, he did.

Dan Burn - 5. Seemed to end up more often than not with West Ham's only slippery customer and he looked uncomfortable at times as Kudus ran at him. One mistake saw him whip one across the box which we were lucky to get away with. He was booked for a needless foul on the full back but West Ham never tested him enough and Burn got more comfortable in the latter stages.

Kieran Trippier - 7. After a slowish start, Trippier went on to have one of his most promising recent games in what has sadly become a stop-start Newcastle career lately. His cross cum shot should really have been finished by Barnes in the first half, but it was his game management which drags us through games like this, and you can bet your life he was the loudest one telling Pope to stay down.

Sandro Tonali - 7. Tonali did what Tonali does best tonight. Breaking up the play, wanting the ball and getting the ball moving. It's what we have cried out for in our last two away games but the gulf in class between those sides and tonight's opposition gave him the time and space to do all of those things. Still a little bit wasteful at times, including in the third minute of injury time when he hit a terrible pass when he just needed to keep it.

Bruno Guimarães - 8. We all read the stats about Bruno. They come from all angles. The best at this, the most that, but in truth, for large parts of this season, he's been pretty average. You can usually tell very early on in the piece what you are going to get. Tonight he looked up for it from the off. A couple of excellent first half full-back splitting passes should have been jumped on, while his play was full of energy and he was a right nuisance. Always a good sign. A good finish for the goal and all round much, much better.

Joelinton - 5. Played a little bit like a player just back from an injury and one who is running yet another disciplinary tightrope. He got one booking, but that was it and a big sigh of relief in that respect. One shot ballooned high over and into the stands summed it up. That's quite a feat seeing as the stands are in a different postcode to the pitch.

Jacob Murphy - 5. Not his night in all honesty. Worked hard but nothing came off. Saw a deflected cross almost sneak in while his ball in caused chaos and brought a miraculous save to deny an own goal. Those moments was few and far between though and a few of his passes were jaw droppingly bad. He kept himself for Sunday, alright.

Alexander Isak - 6. West Ham were obviously scared stiff of Isak and whenever he got the ball, most of the Hammers team seemed to crowd around him. This made for a pretty barren match for him, and although he almost scored after Areola’s save, it was just behind him and it flew over. A strange match certainly, but not an Isak type of one.

Harvey Barnes - 7. In a game with as much end to end action as a testimonial match, nearly all of the action surrounded Barnes who looked more interested than he has done in a long time. He had three really good first half chances. An awful chip when he broke clear was a low point and he should have finished after Trippier’s whipped cross and from a header. He did eventually get his assist with a good ball for Bruno and Howe will be pretty happy with that.

SUBSTITUTES

Callum Wilson, for Isak 79 minutes - 5. Not on long enough to add to his bounty of goals against West Ham. Probably gutted not to start.

Joe Willock, for Barnes 79 minutes - 4. Nothing to report really.

Sean Longstaff, for Guimarães 87 minutes - 4. One awful pass which i think is just best forgotten.

Scott Robson