[BrianCappellieri]

Newcastle duo miss Premiership opener

Gary Speed and Clarence Acuna will miss Newcastle's Monday night Premiership opener at home to West Ham through injury...
Ananova

[CrewToon]

The match will be on FSW live at 3 p.m. EST. I believe the replay will be shown either at 11 p.m. EST or 11 p.m. PST.

[BrianCappellieri]

BBC Match Preview

[BrianCappellieri]

FT Newcastle 4 - West Ham 0

Livewire striker Lomana LuaLua ensured that Newcastle launched their new Premiership campaign in style as they romped to a 4-0 victory over West Ham.

The Beautiful Game

LuaLua's double inspires Newcastle

"If we finish fourth again, I will do a somersault," Sir Bobby Robson declared before kick-off, although they would have to be spectacular indeed to match the ones performed by Lomana LuaLua at St James' Park last night.

Independent Sport

Two second-half goals from Newcastle striker Lomano LuaLua sent the Magpies to the top of the Premiership after a convincing victory over West Ham.

This is Staffordshire

Planet Football: Lua Lua Stars in Magpies Win

[mikesterw]

Great game, the lads really controlled the game well. Lua Lua looked sharp and Shearer was well Shearer, magnificent. Good performance, the new players looked good as well, I think we might see good things from Viana this year.

[wu-tang beez]

I thought Lua-Lua missed some open chances in the 1st half and didn't connect well w/ the midfield. His 1st goal, nutmegging David James, was a decent shot but the keeper never should've allowed a ball to slip thru his 5 hole. Ever! I'm still mystified on how he could a national team keeper. I've never watched this guy prove why he's even in the premiership rather than the nationwide league. Lua's snap header was fast, but again, James should have been able to get on it had he been on the right line. Shearer's goal was classy & he had great build ups throughout the match, but Solano's was more of the D's failure to clean up the loose ball. Aside from Cole, who had great creative touch but rarely was in position to rcv good balls, West Ham looked amateur. I thought the man city game was ugly, but this was far worse. Amen to the EPL being back on FSW. I've watched enough crappy mexican futbol for a years time. 14 shots to 2 was the difference in this game. It may be a bit premature, but West Ham has serious problems.

[BrianCappellieri]

Newcastle rout West Ham

Newcastle signalled their intent for the new Premiership season with an emphatic victory over West Ham...
BBC

Robson lauds LuaLua

Newcastle boss Bobby Robson singled out two-goal striker Lomano LuaLua for special praise after his side's 4-0 win over West Ham...
BBC

[geordienation]

Well, West Ham paid the price for bunkering.

The pressure just kept coming and that first goal was a dam breaking. It opened up the field and there could have been 8 more scored.

Lua Lua is an utterly unpredictable element. Just fantastic. I was very impressed with his workrate.

Ratings:

Shay Given - 6 - Yawn. Did somebody say there was a game tonight?

Aaron Hughes - 5 - Solid enough, but he was never really tested. Crosses leave something to be desired.

Titus Bramble - 6 - Acquitted himself quite well in his first real Toon outing. I though he played cleanup quite well.

Nicos Dabizas - 6 - Not seriously tested in the back and didn't really connect on corners.

Oliver Bernard - 6 - Still makes me nervous (can get caught out of position), but his pace and ability to push forward pinned the Hammers right side way back.

Nolberto Solano - 7 - Dangerous as always. His corners were a source of problems for West Ham and his assist and goal were very wel taken.

Jermaine Jenas - 6 - Looked good at times but had a couple of needless giveaways. He's a keeper.

Kieron Dyer - 6 - Had stretches where he disappeared, buy his speed caused all kinds of problems in midfield.

Hugo Viana - 7 - The new kid was impressive. He's got pace to burn and he crossed well. I thought he adapted to the English game quite well.

Lomano Lua Lua - 8 - Did everything you could want. He was a terror. His first two goals were well taken and the third would not have been possible if he hadn't beaten two defenders and poked to Solano to set up Shearer. Man of the Match.

Alan Shearer - 7 - The respect he receives from opposing defenses is what will create space for his partner. He had one good chance and buried it with a strikers glee. Nothing wasted. And his defence on corners was superb in the second half.

Subs:Ameobi (81), McClen (87) and Elliot (90). Only Ameobi had any influence on the game, and his was minimal. The damage had been done already.

Overall: This was a cracking start to the season. Great teams bury people at home and that's exactly what the boys did. This was an entertaining, breakneck game. Bobby has Toon Nation in high gear, and it's not even September.

[Garcia]

Lua Lua's celebrations never get old. Yea, Solano is back. Yea, I am a troll, but a good one.

[fox point fury]

Originally posted by geordienation
Lomano Lua Lua - 8 - Did everything you could want. He was a terror. His first two goals were well taken and the third would not have been possible if he hadn't beaten two defenders and poked to Solano to set up Shearer. Man of the Match.

That pull-and-spin move to feed Solano for Shearer's goal was beautiful.