Newcastle United were a point better off. Technically, at least. But it did not feel like it at full-time as Fabian Schar booted the ball away in frustration following the Magpies' 1-1 draw against West Ham at St James' Park. If ever a reaction showed how far Newcastle had come in a week where Eddie Howe's side reached their first League Cup final since 1976.
Callum Wilson admitted his side 'stopped doing the things that brought us success' after the striker fired the hosts ahead against the Hammers on Saturday in the third minute. Not only did Newcastle fail to go for the throat after such an electric start, but the hosts also conceded a sloppy equaliser when Lucas Paqueta levelled from a corner after the half-hour mark. It proved to be West Ham's only shot on target.
Yet this was still a night where fourth-placed Newcastle set a club record after going 16 games unbeaten in the Premier League to keep their place in the top four. Newcastle, in the process, hit the 40-point mark, the so-called 'magical' points tally, which was a feat that would have been quietly celebrated not so long ago when the black-and-whites battled relegation.
