Harvey Barnes’ late double helps Newcastle sink West Ham in thriller

Harvey Barnes has spent much of the season sitting on a physiotherapy table at Newcastle’s suburban training ground but, having finally stepped off it, he forced open a window offering tantalising glimpses of exciting European vistas.

The forward scored two fine late goals, the second a 90th-minute winner, during a brief substitute’s cameo, turning an often crazy game that West Ham had led 3-1 upside down.

Newcastle’s victory revives the previously fast fading possibility of a Europa League odyssey after all, even if the race for continental qualification seems set to go right to the wire.

West Ham remain very much in it too but their optimism will have been shaken by a game that destroyed their manager, David Moyes’s Easter.

Thanks to stellar performances from not merely Barnes but Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon – although the latter let himself down by being sent off for a second yellow card for kicking the ball away after conceding a 95th-minute free kick – Newcastle dragged themselves back into a match initially dominated by West Ham’s impressive Mohammed Kudus and Michail Antonio.

That pair conspired to cancel out the early home lead secured when Isak sent Alphonse Areola the wrong way from the penalty spot.

The spot-kick was awarded after Gordon marked his return from England duty by manoeuvring himself between Vladimir Coufal and the ball. Sure enough, the defender was provoked into conceding what briefly, and deceptively, appeared an afternoon-defining penalty.

For a few minutes it seemed as if the game would run away from West Ham but Newcastle lost their rhythm after Jamaal Lascelles limped away from the heart of defence with a knee injury.

Shortly after the defensive reshuffle featuring Emil Krafth’s introduction at right-back, Lucas Paquetá lifted a sublime through ball over the top of the rearguard. An onside Antonio, swivelled away from Fabian Schär and made the most of Martin Dubravka’s initial indecision about whether or not to back off by shooting expertly beyond the goalkeeper.

Bruno Guimarães had become increasingly embroiled in a midfield duel with Paquetá and, evidently desperate not to be eclipsed by his Brazil teammate, responded by striking the bar.

By then Gordon should probably have already restored Newcastle’s lead but after connecting with Jacob Murphy’s cross the winger headed wide with Areola wrongfooted.

Kudus proved rather more accurate when meeting Jarrod Bowen’s delivery and directing a rising shot past Dubravka after Paquetá’s swiftly taken free-kick.

That prompted an outpouring of fury from the Gallowgate End as they reminded the referee, Rob Jones, Schar had been down with a head injury as the Ghanaian scored. Somewhat ironically Schar sustained the damage while conceding that goal prefacing set piece by fouling Kudus.

Dubravka was left cursing for a third time after Bowen stroked his 15th Premier League goal of the season past him from the edge of the area two minutes into the second half.

A particular slapdash passage of defending left an accelerating Bowen clean through as he was played in by Kudus’s smart counterattack after a home corner.

Eddie Howe responded with a triple substitution, introducing Miguel Almirón, Elliot Anderson and Lewis Hall. His team duly perked up, forcing Konstantinos Mavropanos into a couple of important defensive interceptions, only for Almirón to pull up injured and inadvertently create a stage for Barnes to conjure his magic.

Moyes replaced Antonio with a forlorn looking Kalvin Phillips, who probably wishes he had remained on the bench. When Gordon reprised his first-half party trick and squeezed himself between Phillips and the ball in the area a foul was drawn, the video assistant referee intervened and a penalty was awarded. Phillips was later seen on social media gesturing at a fan who criticised him as he boarded the team coach.

Once again Isak stepped forward and delighted in beating Lukasz Fabianski – a half-time replacement for the injured Areola – from 12 yards. It was his seventh Premier League goal in eight games.