By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Managing Editor
At the Boleyn Ground
West Ham United 2 (Payet 9, 48)
Newcastle United 0
Newcastle United suffered a 2-0 defeat away at West Ham United in the Barclays Premier League on Monday night.
A goal in each half from Dimitri Payet separated the sides at the Boleyn Ground, and while the Magpies enjoyed plenty of possession, they failed to create enough clear cut chances, with the Hammers - and Payet in particular - clinical in those situations.
The summer signing from Marseille broke the deadlock after just nine minutes, placing an outstanding effort into the top corner from just outside the area, and doubled that tally early in the second period, remaining calm with a sidefoot finish after Victor Moses' shot had struck the crossbar.
Full-back Daryl Janmaat was Newcastle's biggest attacking threat, forcing home goalkeeper Darren Randolph into a trio of saves but that was as close as the visitors came on a disappointing evening.
The result leaves Newcastle bottom of the top flight after five games, with two points to their name. They will look to pick up a first league win of the season as Watford come to St. James' Park on Saturday.
Arriving at the Boleyn Ground less than an hour before kick-off due to a couple of accidents and heavy traffic was a far from ideal start to the evening's work in East London.
And the Magpies' night got worse with less than nine minutes on the clock when Payet stroked the hosts in front.
Neat interplay between Diafra Sakho and captain Mark Noble saw the latter lay the ball into the path of Payet, 20 yards out.
The French summer signing could have opted for power but, with a cluster of bodies in front of him, instead used his instep to superbly curl a strike into the top corner past the full-stretch dive of Tim Krul.
Payet could have doubled his tally on 18 minutes but, as a loose ball inside the area found its way to his feet, he was unable to adjust himself quickly enough this time and shanked a left-footed shot well wide.
United responded immediately and only a fine save from Hammers keeper Darren Randolph prevented United from levelling things up.
Janmaat raced down the right flank and having found Georginio Wijnaldum on the edge of the area, continued his run into the box. Wijnaldum's heavy touch landed kindly at the feet of Janmaat but his first time effort was blocked by the leg of Randolph.
With half-time approaching, Victor Moses could have doubled West Ham's advantage and grabbed himself a debut goal in the process but, having raced upfield from defending a corner, and been picked out by Payet's pass, he fired wildly off target.
However, less than three minutes into the second half, Payet grabbed his - and the Hammers' - second goal of the night.
It all stemmed from a Newcastle free-kick in the final third. As the home side cleared their lines they broke at pace through Moses who got inside the area, tied Massadio Haidara in knots and crashed an effort against the underside of the bar.
But the rebound fell kindly to Payet, who kept his composure with a volleyed finish.
Papiss Cisse and Vurnon Anita both briefly threatened a response but couldn't test Randolph, and on the hour mark head coach Steve McClaren made a double substitution - replacing Anita and Florian Thauvin with Siem de Jong and Ayoze Perez.
Janmaat forced another save out of Randolph in the 66th minute, trying to beat the keeper at his near post after Moussa Sissoko had teed up the rampaging full-back, while at the other end, Aaron Cresswell curled a free-kick into the side netting.
Rolando Aarons was introduced with 11 minutes remaining in a final throw of the dice by McClaren, and the Academy product immediately delivered a couple of teasing crosses, the latter of which led to Randolph brilliantly tipping over de Jong's deflected effort.
West Ham United (4-2-3-1): Darren Randolph; James Tomkins, Winston Reid, Angelo Ogbonna (Carl Jenkinson 42), Aaron Cresswell; Mark Noble (c), Cheikhou Kouyate; Manuel Lanzini (Pedro Obiang 59), Dimitri Payet, Victor Moses (Andy Carroll 87); Diafra Sakho
Subs not used: Raphael Spiegel, James Collins, Michail Antonio, Nikica Jelavic
Newcastle United (4-2-3-1): Tim Krul; Daryl Janmaat, Chancel Mbemba, Fabricio Coloccini (c), Massadio Haidara; Vurnon Anita (Siem de Jong 60), Jack Colback; Moussa Sissoko, Georginio Wijnaldum (Rolando Aarons 79), Florian Thauvin (Ayoze Perez 60); Papiss Cisse
Subs not used: Karl Darlow, Jamaal Lascelles, Yoan Gouffran, Gabriel Obertan
Referee: Anthony Taylor (Greater Manchester)
Bookings: West Ham United - none; Newcastle - Colback (30), Janmaat (57), Mbemba (87)
Attendance: 34,907 (2,200 Newcastle)
