The sign of a true contender is to win when you are not at your absolute best. Newcastle United took that adage to the next level in the visitors' 5-1 victory at West Ham, recording their joint-biggest ever away win in Premier League history at the London Stadium in the process. Worryingly for their rivals, Newcastle can play even better than they did on Wednesday night.
Although Newcastle were helped by some slapstick defending, Eddie Howe's ruthless team took full advantage and the recalled Callum Wilson and Joelinton pitched in with a double each while substitute Alexander Isak got in on the act late on with a superb lob from distance. It said it all that there were no over the top celebrations after Isak and Joelinton's goals late on - it was just all so routine. Rather than this being a season highlight, like it would have been in a previous era, these players are hungry for more.
The away end had long implored their side to 'take the p---' before those goals and completed passes were met with shouts of 'olé'. To think some of these supporters saw Newcastle go four years without winning in London once upon a time. Now, the capital has become a happy hunting ground in the Premier League for their side.
READ MORE: Newcastle's ominous warning, Eddie Howe rages and humiliating David Moyes chant - 5 things
It was rather telling that even when Kurt Zouma pulled one back for West Ham before half-time to make it 2-1, Newcastle did not crumble. The visitors merely retook the lead after the break as Wilson grabbed his second and rediscovering that clinical edge has reignited Newcastle's push for the Champions League. Newcastle have now scored at least two goals in each of their last four league games after failing to net more than once in any of their previous eight top-flight fixtures.
Yet these players will not be getting carried away with a huge game at high-flying Brentford to come on Saturday. These are the standards at Newcastle now and it was noticeable how Howe cut an agitated figure on the touchline even after his side had raced into a 2-0 lead after just 13 minutes. Howe was desperate for Newcastle to 'not let the game slip away from us' and the Magpies boss did not hold back during one break in play, in particular, in the first half as his players gathered around him.
It was a rare glimpse of an animated Howe on the touchline, but nothing those working behind the scenes have not seen before. Indeed, Newcastle assistant Graeme Jones previously told ChronicleLive that Howe has this 'conscience that everything has to be done properly' and the 45-year-old is not afraid to turn the air blue to make his point.
"Never to the point of losing control, but anger is an important emotion to have," the Newcastle head coach told reporters. "As a manager, you need it. You certainly need to express it to your players if they're not delivering what you want them to."
Those demands are driving players and staff alike and Newcastle are now three points clear of Spurs in third place with a game in hand. Liverpool, meanwhile, are now 10 points behind.
Newcastle, unlike their rivals, have found a second wind at just the right time, winning four games on the bounce, and the Magpies did what real top four hopefuls do on Wednesday night: backed up a big result following last weekend's victory against Manchester United.
Manchester United supporters may have taken aim at Newcastle's traditional winning team photograph, but there was certainly no danger of the Magpies taking their eye off the ball after Sunday's 2-0 win. In fact, just seconds before the customary picture was taken, Howe spoke to his silent players about moving on 'very quickly' and trying to 'get this feeling throughout the week'.
That is what the best sides do, after all, and the group did not need reminding of what was at stake following the first of three games in just six days. They certainly knew they could not afford to take West Ham lightly on Wednesday night. As Sean Longstaff put it: "We need to be ready to bring the energy."
This game was sandwiched in between a momentous win against Manchester United and a tricky trip to Brentford on Saturday so Howe, unsurprisingly, made a couple of changes to his side as Joelinton and Callum Wilson came in for Joe Willock and Alexander Isak. While this was a quick turnaround for both teams, who both played on Sunday, it was West Ham who looked the fresher in the opening stages after the hosts raced out of the blocks.
In fact, West Ham came close to taking the lead inside a minute. Jarrod Bowen raced past Dan Burn down the right and the forward's cross was turned onto the post by Bruno Guimaraes as the Brazil international slid in to block. It was a huge let-off for Newcastle, but the Magpies quickly recovered - and some.
There were just six minutes on the clock when Kieran Trippier's corner was headed away only as far as Allan Saint-Maximin out on the right and the Frenchman danced inside Said Benrahma before his scooped cross was headed into the far corner by Callum Wilson. Who else? The striker has now scored 12 goals against West Ham - more than any other side.
Yet Newcastle were not done yet. Far from looking to take the sting out of the game, Newcastle went in search of another and the visitors soon doubled their advantage.
Fabian Schar's diagonal caught West Ham's static backline napping in the 13th minute and the defender picked out the run of Joelinton, who cleverly played to the whistle, rounding Lukasz Fabianski, to put Newcastle 2-0 up. Although there was a VAR check for offside, Joelinton was soon dropping to his knees and pointing to the sky in celebration after the goal was given.
Remarkably, having come close to conceding after just a few seconds, Newcastle found themselves in command at a quiet London Stadium as the away end taunted: "Shall we sing a song for you?"
Yet West Ham were far from out of this and Howe knew it as he raged at his sloppy side. Lucas Paqueta's free-kick was pushed away by Nick Pope in the 28th minute and Sven Botman had to make a last-ditch tackle to deny Michael Antonio just as the West Ham striker was about to pull the trigger a couple of minutes later.
West Ham smelt blood and the visitors soon pulled a goal back right before half-time. Nick Pope flapped at Jarrod Bowen's corner after getting pinned back by Antonio and Kurt Zouma was there to nod home at the back post after easily losing Botman. Suddenly, the home fans found their voice and the momentum was with West Ham going into half-time.
Newcastle regrouped at the break, though, and the Magpies soon grabbed a crucial third. The second half had just got under way when Jacob Murphy, pressing high up the pitch, dispossessed the nervous Nayef Aguerd and unselfishly squared the ball to Wilson to tap home to make it 3-1.
This time, there was no danger of Newcastle throwing away a two-goal advantage and Howe's side went for the throat as the Magpies head coach threw on Joe Willock, Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak for Murphy, Saint-Maximin and Wilson after the hour mark. Isak soon joined the party.
Bruno's ball over the top caused havoc in the 82nd minute and Fabianski rushed out of his goal to clear. However, Fabianski merely cushioned the ball into Isak's path and Newcastle's record signing chested it down before lobbing the ball into an empty net.
The London Stadium had started to empty by then, but worse was to come at the death. This time Bruno's searching ball out to the left found Joelinton, who advanced on goal and finished clinically into the bottom corner despite being surrounded by three West Ham defenders. It was all so routine.
READ NEXT
Eddie Howe laughs as Newcastle get under the skin of angry Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag
Newcastle make mockery of ten Hag dig as Eddie Howe reacts to Manchester United touchline spat
Eddie Howe hits back at Erik ten Hag 'nonsense' as Newcastle boss shuts Man United coach down
Newcastle send statement to Manchester United and Eddie Howe stands up to Erik ten Hag- 5 things
Eddie Howe stands up for Newcastle as Manchester United try to get into referee Attwell's head
