West Ham United v Newcastle United
Premier League, London Stadium, Saturday 19 February 2022, 12.30pm
West Ham United welcome Newcastle United to London Stadium for a Saturday lunchtime kick-off in the Premier League.
The Hammers are seeking to complete a Premier League double over the Magpies, having won 4-2 at St James' Park on the opening weekend of the 2021/22 season.
West Ham kick-off the weekend fifth in the table with 41 points from 25 games, having defeated Watford and draw at Leicester City in our two most-recent fixtures.
Newcastle, meanwhile, are up to 17th with 21 points from 23 matches after winning their last three Premier League fixtures away at Leeds United and at home to Everton and Aston Villa. Those results came after Eddie Howe, who replaced Steve Bruce as manager in November, made five January signings.
Update on supporter access to London Stadium
West Ham United can provide an update to supporters on their access to London Stadium for the remainder of the 2021/22 season, following the Government’s easing of COVID-19 Autumn and Winter Plan B restrictions.
In line with the latest Government guidance, COVID passes will no longer be a condition of entry to Premier League matches.
Supporters will no longer be required to complete a health declaration form before the match, nor present any form of COVID certification on matchday.
West Ham United, the Premier League and its clubs continue to urge fans to follow public health guidance to keep each other safe on a matchday, including wearing face coverings when indoors or in crowded areas.
A Code of Conduct remains in place and is updated to reflect the latest changes in Government and Premier League guidance. As COVID-19 restrictions ease, it is vital supporters continue to do all they can to minimise the risk of passing on COVID
Supporters should note that stadium access processes continue to remain subject to change, in line with changes to COVID protocols or guidance issued by the Government, Premier League and SGSA.
Travel news
Supporters are advised to check their journeys before travel, with resources such as TfL's Journey Planner or the TfL Go app helping to avoid some essential works across the transport network. Supporters may also wish to visit the National Rail website to plan their journey if traveling on the rail network.
There are some service disruptions that supporters should be aware of on Saturday 19 February:
TfL Rail
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There will be no TfL Rail service between Liverpool Street and Shenfield. Please use London Underground connections between Liverpool Street and Stratford. Replacement buses operate as follows
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Service C: Stratford City (for Stratford and Maryland) - Forest Gate (Romford Road) - Manor Park (Romford Road) - Ilford - Seven Kings - Goodmayes - Chadwell Heath (Wagney Road) - Romford
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Service D: Newbury Park (for Central line) - Chadwell Heath (Wagney Road) - Romford - Gidea Park - Harold Wood - Brentwood - Shenfield
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Greater Anglia
- Due to track renewal and maintenance work between London Liverpool Street and Romford, services to/from Norwich, Ipswich, Clacton and Southend will turn around at Shenfield all weekend.
- Passengers travelling to/from London should use rail replacement bus services provided between Shenfield and Newbury Park TfL Central line tube station. National Rail tickets to/from London will be accepted on the TfL Central line between Newbury Park TfL Central line tube station and Stratford/London Liverpool Street.
Southeastern Trains
- Planned engineering work means that buses will replace trains between Ebbsfleet International and Ashford International and between Ashford International and Canterbury West.
- Fans travelling to the match on the Highspeed route from Ashford should travel from Ebbsfleet if possible.
- A number of additional trains will operate between Faversham and St Pancras before and after the match.
- Play your journey using the Southeastern website by clicking here.
Northern line
- No service between Kennington and Moorgate.
- The Northern line will be closed between Kennington and Moorgate from Sunday 16 January to mid-May 2022. This is due to work we are doing to substantially improve the capacity at Bank station. During this time, many stations and lines in central London will be much busier and you may have to make changes to the way you travel. Visit our website for more information.
Piccadilly line
- Until spring 2022 - Trains will not stop at South Kensington. The Circle and District lines will continue to stop and the station will remain open.
Bakerloo line
- No service between Queens Park and Harrow & Wealdstone.
London Overground
- No service between Romford and Upminster. Please use local London Buses routes 165, 248 and 370.
- No service between Euston and Watford Junction. Replacement buses operate.
How to follow
Kick-off on Saturday is at 12.30pm and the game will be broadcast live in the UK by BT Sport 1 and BT Sport Ultimate. If you are based overseas, you might be able to watch the game in your territory. Click here for overseas broadcast listings.
We will also be covering the game live with a blog and audio commentary on whufc.com and our Official App and across our social media channels, with goals, highlights and exclusive reaction to follow after the final whistle.
Team news
David Moyes will be without Angelo Ogbonna, who is continuing his rehabilitation following knee surgery, while Arthur Masuaku has been managing his own knee issue. Kurt Zouma has recovered from the stomach illness that caused him to miss last Sunday's match at Leicester City.
Eddie Howe will definitely be without full-backs Kieran Trippier, who suffered a broken foot in last weekend's win over Aston Villa, and Javier Manquillo, who suffered an ankle injury in the same game.
Centre-back Federico Fernández (thigh), the versatile Matt Ritchie (knee) and striker Callum Wilson (calf) are also ruled out.
However, left-back Matt Targett is available after missing the Villa victory as his loan meant he could not face his parent club.
The opposition – Newcastle United
A new era has dawned at Newcastle United.
On 7 October 2021, retail entrepreneur Mike Ashley’s 14-and-a-half year reign as the club’s owner came to an end when its sale to a consortium led by the completed to a consortium led by the Saudi Arabia-based Public Investment Fund.
Led by Chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan and Directors Amanda Staveley and Jamie Reuben, Newcastle have since embarked on a recruitment drive on and off the pitch.
Former AFC Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe (pictured) replaced Steve Bruce as manager, arriving a month after the new owners alongside his long-time assistant Jason Tindall – son of legendary former West Ham United Academy scout Jimmy – and coach Stephen Purches.
The opening of the January transfer window led to the signing of five new players at a reported cost of nearly £100 million – England right-back Kieran Trippier, New Zealand centre-forward Chris Wood, Brazil midfielder Bruno Guimarães and English defenders Dan Burn and Matt Targett.
Prior to their arrivals, Howe’s first game in charge on 20 November ended in a thrilling 3-3 draw with Brentford at St James’ Park, where the Toon Army have been injected with renewed optimism following years of despondency.
After that, Newcastle’s results followed a predictable pattern, with defeats by Arsenal, Leicester City, Liverpool and Manchester City, draws with Norwich City, Manchester United and Watford, and wins over Burnley and Leeds United.
Those victories were the Magpies’ first of the Premier League season and saw the club climb off the bottom of the table, but a home defeat by EFL League One club Cambridge United in the FA Cup third round was a reminder that Newcastle remain very much a work in progress, and top-flight salvation is far from certain.
Hope springs eternal, though, and the same Toon Army who were switched off by years of relative struggle and mediocrity are now energised and enthused for an exciting and, if the new owners’ plans play out, successful future.
Of course, this is not the first time Newcastle have been filled with expectation following a change in the Boardroom.
Property developer Sir John Hall’s arrival in 1992 sparked an upturn in the club’s fortunes that saw Kevin Keegan and then Sir Bobby Robson (pictured, above) appointed as managers, lifelong fan Alan Shearer spearhead their buccaneering teams and the Magpies fly into the Premier League and reach two FA Cup finals, only to finish as gallant runners-up twice in both competitions.
With Newcastle unable to maintain that level, Hall sold the club to Ashley in 2007 and the decade and a half that followed featured two relegations, two Championship titles and supporter protests.
The Toon Army will hope the new era that has dawned is altogether different.
Previous meetings
West Ham United can complete a Premier League double over Newcastle United on Saturday, having won 4-2 at St James' Park on the opening weekend of the 2021/22 season.
David Moyes' side came from behind twice to win, with Aaron Cresswell, Saïd Benrahma, Tomáš Souček and Michail Antonio on target for the Hammers.
The Hammers and Magpies also met on the opening weekend of last season, when second-half goals from Callum Wilson and Jeff Hendrick sent the Irons to a disappointing 2-0 defeat at London Stadium in September 2020.
Overall, the two sides have met 47 times in the Premier League since 1993/94. West Ham have won 14, Newcastle have won 22 and eleven have ended in draws.
In all competitions, our biggest ever win over Newcastle was the famous 8-1 First Division success achieved by the Boys of '86. Alvin Martin scored a hat-trick against three different goalkeepers, including England forward Peter Beardsley, at the Boleyn Ground on 21 April 1986.
Overall, the two clubs have met 138 times since February 1908, with the Magpies holding the all-time advantage with 57 wins to the Hammers’ 43, with 38 draws.
Match officials
Referee: Chris Kavanagh
Assistant Referees: Constantine Hatzidakis & James Mainwaring
Fourth Official: Graham Scott
VAR: Jarred Gillett
Assistant VAR: Harry Lennard
Chris Kavanagh takes charge of his 100th Premier League fixture as a referee on Saturday.
Born in Manchester in 1985, Kavanagh was 13 when he began his refereeing career, moving up through the non-league pyramid to the National League in 2012, aged 27.
Kavanagh was promoted to the Football League in 2014 before refereeing his first Premier League fixture between West Bromwich Albion and Southampton in April 2017.
In all, Kavanagh has refereed nearly 300 senior matches, including 99 Premier League games, UEFA Champions League and Europa League ties, friendly internationals, UEFA Euro 2020 qualifiers and UEFA Nations League ties.
Kavanagh’s first West Ham United appointment was the FA Cup fourth-round defeat at Wigan Athletic in January 2018. He also officiated the Hammers' 2-0 home Premier League win over Saturday's visitors Newcastle United in March 2019.
This season, he was the man in the middle for our Premier League win at Aston Villa on 31 October, the 1-1 home top-flight draw with Brighton & Hove Albion on 1 December and our 2-1 Carabao Cup fifth-round defeat at Tottenham Hotspur on 22 December.
This will be his 16th appointment for a West Ham fixture.
Blesma, The Limbless Veterans
It was in the aftermath of World War One that Limbless Servicemen first came together to campaign for greater rights and opportunities.
In 1932, branches of what was then known as the ‘Limbless Ex-Serviceman’s’ Associations’ united and became ‘Blesma’ - the British Limbless Ex-Serviceman's Association. The organisation was granted national Charitable status for the first time.
Ninety years on, and Blesma is still supporting those injured in World War Two and subsequent conflicts. Their Members range from the youngest amputee veterans to those who fought in World War Two, some having lived with amputation for more than half a century.
On Saturday, at their West Ham United Charity Partner selected Premier League fixture, we help to recognise and raise awareness for Blesma’s efforts.
With your support, they plan to be here for Limbless and injured Veterans for another 90 years to come.
Find out more about their vital work and how you can support Blesma in its 90th Year by visiting Blesma.org.
Why not sign up for one of their events? You can find all of their events here.