Reid Denies Toon Win

Newcastle United met up with West Ham United at Upton Park on a sun-lit Saturday in East London. The Premier League match had a real 'end-of-season' flavour to it as both sides pushed for three points in an exciting draw.

Former Newcastle players Andy Carroll and Kevin Nolan were anticipating a win over the Toon following Newcastle's 6-0 loss to Liverpool.

The game got off to a steady start with both sides pushing on, but it was physics-defying Papiss Cisse who came closest early on as he broke through the Hammers defence before sliding a soft shot past goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen. Hammer of the Year contender Winston Reid was there to save the day however, as he sprinted back towards his own goal; the New Zealand captain had signed a new contract just days earlier. The ball was rolling slowly, allowing Reid time to get back, and just as the ball appeared to cross the line, a series of fortunate events unfolded for West Ham as Reid touched the ball away from the goal, and the linesman fell over. The ball had crossed the line, but hadn't been given.

West Ham pushed on from there, and came close through Carroll who was causing all sorts of problems in the Newcastle box. Moments later, it was Carroll who was smashed to floor following an aerial challenge with Fabricio Coloccini; the Newcastle defender seemed to go for Carroll instead of the ball resulting in numerous penalty claims led by Hammers captain Nolan.

West Ham piled on more and more pressure in attempts to break the deadlock, and send the Newcastle faithful home in bad tune. But it was a combination of great goalkeeper, great defending, and sheer luck that kept them at bay as winger Matthew Jarvis hit the post before the bar.

It wasn't just bad-luck on Newcastle side after all. However, the Toon went very close to going in-front through Gouffran as he broke through the West Ham defence - similar to Cisse earlier on - and chipped the ball over an oncoming Jaaskelainen who again left his goal at the mercy of Newcastle. As the ball sailed through the air it looked certain to go in, but as it connected with the floor it bounced wide of the post, ever so narrowly.

Newcastle now slip even further into the relegation dog fight despite picking up a hard-earned point away to West Ham who have failed to score in just two of their home matches this season. The Hammers sit in 10th following a great return to the Barclays Premier League and look set for top flight football next season. 

Newcastle now sit 16th with Wigan and Sunderland both having a game in hand, of which can lead to a Newcastle side battling to get out of the bottom three.

Despite finishing 0-0 the game was a great, blood-rushing game with both sides attacking very well! 

Are Newcastle set for relegation? Or will someone else take up that last spot?

Ben Edkins (@benedkins12)