Newcastle defeat Hammers

Newcastle defeated West Ham with Mark Viduka scoring an excellent brace and Charles N'Zogbia also getting on the scoresheet. Dean Ashton's goal for West Ham was not enough for the London side to rescue some points. Michael Owen was also taken off as an injury precaution with a groin problem.

In a game which Newcastle impressed, the only downside was a potential groin injury to England striker Michael Owen.

Left-sided player Charles N'Zogbia was in superb form as he grabbed two assists and a goal for himself.

Newcastle took an early lead in the 2nd minute as Mark Viduka

got on the scoresheet. Milner found N'Zogbia who whipped in a devilish near post cross and Viduka stooped to steer the ball past Green at his near post.

West Ham then had a little period of domination and were rewarded as Ashton scored on 32 minutes. Carlton Cole nodded the ball onto Ashton who volleyed neatly into the bottom corner giving Harper with no chance.

Viduka was later on hand to score his second goal as Newcastle went ahead against the run of play. N'Zogbia got in behind Bowyer and then beat Lucas Neill and smashed a cross towards Viduka who gets enough on it to bundle the ball over the line.

On 78 minutes it was all over for West Ham as Martins and N'Zogbia combined brilliantly for Charles to bundle the ball into an empty net from 6 yards out.

The loss was West Ham's first since the start of the season and Newcastle will be delighted with the three points.

Newcastle: Steve Harper, Habib Beye, Claudio Cacapa, David Rozehnal, Nicky Butt, Geremi, James Milner, Charles N'Zogbia, Michael Owen, Alan Smith, Mark Viduka.

Substitutes: Shay Given, Sanchez Jose Enrique, Steven Taylor, Abdoulaye Faye, Obafemi Martins.

West Ham: Robert Green, Anton Ferdinand, George McCartney, Lucas Neill, Matthew Upson, Lee Bowyer, Matthew Etherington, Hayden Mullins, Mark Noble, Dean Ashton, Carlton Cole.

Substitutes: Richard Wright, James Collins, Jonathan Spector, Fredrik Ljungberg, Henri Camara.