Barnes double amid wild finale sees Newcastle come back to stun West Ham

Newcastle United kept their hopes of European football next season alive with a sensational 4-3 comeback victory over West Ham in today’s early kick-off.

With 13 minutes of normal time left Newcastle were 3-1 behind, but they produced a stunning comeback to take all three points.

Alexander Isak converted a penalty to halve the deficit, before sliding a perfect through-ball to Harvey Barnes for the equaliser.

Their improbable comeback was sealed in the final minute of normal time when Barnes drilled in the winner from 20 yards.

Newcastle were depleted by injuries going into the game, and lost Jamaal Lascelles, Tino Livramento and Miguel Almiron during it.

Isak had given Newcastle an early lead from the penalty spot, only for it to be cancelled out by a smart finish from Michail Antonio for West Ham.

Mohammed Kudus and Jarrod Bowen scored either side of half time to give West Ham the 3-1 lead before the hosts stormed back to seal a stunning victory.

Can Newcastle secure European football next year? As today’s game drifted towards full time, an injury-ravaged Newcastle looked certain to be heading to a numbing defeat. A famous 15 minutes changed everything, and suddenly Newcastle have some wind in their sails after a stunning victory today.

Given the rate at which they’re losing players, it’s not going to be easy. Eddie Howe will be sweating on the three injuries picked up today but has a decent run-in with which to try and secure a top seven or eight finish.

Newcastle only have to play Tottenham and Manchester United out of the top six in their remaining games. If they can get a run going now, their game at home to fellow European place challengers Brighton in May already has the whiff of being decisive. It won’t be easy, but after today anything will seem possible.

Not many players win player of the match after receiving a red card, but Gordon certainly earned it today. He won two penalties for his team and set up the winner for Barnes, but there was so much more to his performance than that. Even when appearing to be injured he dragged Newcastle forwards and was instrumental in their comeback.

Newcastle United: Dubravka 6; Livramento 6, Lascelles 6, Schar 6, Burn 6; Willock 6, Guimaraes 7, Longstaff 6; Murphy 6, Isak 7, Gordon 8

SUBS: Barnes 8, Krafth 5, Lewis-Hall 6, Almiron 6, Anderson 6

West Ham United: Areola 6; Coufal 5, Zouma 5, Mavropanos 7, Emerson 6; Soucek 6, Ward-Prowse 5, Paqueta 7; Kudus 7, Antonio 7, Bowen 7

SUBS: Fabianski 7, Johnson 6, Phillips 5, Ings 6

6′ GOAL! NEWCASTLE UNITED 1 (ISAK PEN. 6) WEST HAM UNITED 0 – Up steps Isak, and he plants it low into the bottom left as Areola goes jumping in the other direction.

21′ GOAL! NEWCASTLE UNITED 1 WEST HAM UNITED 1 (ANTONIO 21) – From nothing, we’re level! With no pressure on the ball in midfield, Paqueta spins in the centre circle and lofts a pass over the top to Antonio. The run is timed perfectly, and beats Newcastle’s high line; with the freedom of St James’ Park, Antonio drives through into the area and dispatches an emphatic shot past Dubravka.

45+9′ GOAL! NEWCASTLE UNITED 1 WEST HAM UNITED 2 (KUDUS 45+9′) – West Ham lead! Paqueta takes a quick free kick and clips Bowen in on the right of the area. Bowen cuts it back to Kudus, who drills a shot to the top right that Dubravka gets a hand to but can’t keep out. Newcastle are furious here as Schar was down with a head injury, but it’s going to stand.

48′ GOAL! NEWCASTLE UNITED 1 WEST HAM UNITED 3 (BOWEN 48) – It’s another for West Ham, and what a break! A Murphy corner is cleared to the edge of the West Ham area, and Kudus skips past two to get away down the left. He just about keeps the ball in play as he sweeps a pass ot Bowen, who is clean through down the middle. Bowen runs it in to the edge of the box and slots the ball calmly into the far corner.

77′ GOAL! NEWCASTLE UNITED 2 (ISAK PEN. 77) WEST HAM UNITED 3 – Isak does it again! He skips up to the ball and sends Fabianski the wrong way while placing the ball into the bottom left again. Game on!

83′ GOAL! NEWCASTLE UNITED 3 (BARNES 83) WEST HAM UNITED 3 – Lorks a lordy, we’re level! Isak spins in the centre circle and plays a gorgeous, defence splitting pass through to Barnes, who beats West Ham’s offside trap. Barnes is clean through, and composes himself before slotting the ball through the legs of Fabianski. It’s 3-3!

90′ GOAL! NEWCASTLE UNITED 4 (BARNES 90) WEST HAM UNITED 3 – Oh my days, they’re ahead! Gordon wins a ball he was second favourite for again, and spins away from Zouma to find Barnes on the edge of the area. Barnes lets the ball come across him to beat Phillips, before planting a fierce drive into the far corner. St James’ Park erupts!

• This is the latest two goal comeback by any side in the Premier League since Reading beat West Brom in January 2013 after being 2-0 down with 82 minutes gone.