Newcastle’s revival has stretched to three games but they are meeting their first top five side since it began at the London Stadium this weekend.
And with the Hammers looking to maintain their push at the top after the last gasp draw at Leicester City this will hopefully prove the first stumbling block for the Geordies.
The Hammers haven’t been so impressive in recent excursion but a top show is vital on Saturday in terms of both points and confidence.
As has often been said, if a team is not playing at his best and carving out results there can’t be too many complaints and injuries can’t be used as an excuse given that Angelo Ogbonna is the only absentee at the moment.
Kurt Zouma looks set to be fit after a stomach upset and anything other than a win is going to be a big disappointment.
And even Mark Lawrenson seems to believe that’s on the cards with his weekly prediction, He writes in the his BBC column: “Newcastle’s mini-revival is up and running, and they have a little bit of breathing space above the bottom three after winning three games in a row.
The way the Magpies beat Aston Villa last weekend wasn’t pretty, but it was the result that mattered for them.
To get anything out of a trip to West Ham is probably going to involve even more defensive effort and looks a much harder task for Eddie Howe’s side, especially with Kieran Trippier out injured.
The Hammers have been a bit up and down of late but they always seem to have at least one forward in form and firing. Jarrod Bowen is that player at the moment.
Lawro’s prediction: 2-0