Martins' Hits and Misses Sum Up Flawed Thriller

A match that was not so much after the Lord Mayor's Show as during it was given significance thanks to happenings at the major event. Next weekend the top two must play these sides after this helter-skelter game in which they were both, by turns, very very good and very very bad.

Things in these upcoming games are complicated, too, by the fact that West Ham still bear a grudge against United for the indelicately handled purchase of Paul Ince ('Love him or loathe him, you can't ignore Ince' - Brian 'Woolly' Woolnough'). Newcastle, meanwhile, are keen to sustain a fine recent run under Kevin Keegan and demonstrate they are a club worth signing for in the summer.

This pair could cause the title contenders a few palpitations with their fluency in attack but are likely to be undone by their porousness at the back.

West Ham started the brighter here and a Julien Faubert free-kick from the side of the penalty area went skimming over the bar. Next some neat work set up Dean Ashton but his skidding shot went too close to Steve Harper.

Then totally with the run of play they took a deserved lead. George McCartney crossed from the left and Mark Noble, unmarked, swung a volley into the net from 15 yards. Kevin Keegan's hopes of keeping a Newcastle record four successive clean sheets in the Premier League had evaporated within 10 minutes.

West Ham continued to dominate. Newcastle were not even at the races. It was warm enough that when an injury caused a lull in play just after the quarter-hour every player took advantage of a drinks break. After everyone had had their fill Freddie Ljungberg was carried off and replaced by Luis Boa Morte.

Before he could take a touch Dean Ashton was controlling a flick from Bobby Zamora expertly on the penalty spot and swiveling to score in the corner of the net. The centre of the Newcastle defence was as leaky as a punctured bucket and West Ham poured through. A third goal might have followed with Faubert coming closest to providing it.

They were made to pay for their profligacy, however, when with pretty much Newcastle's first attack Obafemi Martins skipped though to collect Joey Barton's through ball and dance the ball past Robert Green. Game on.

And a minute later game very much on as a flick on by Mark Viduka fell to Martins whose fluffed shot was headed by Geremi over Green and in.

The thrills and spills continued in the second half with Ashton putting himself about and Newcastle looking threatening. And then things became violent with Nicky Butt and John Pantsil being booked for over-vigorous challenges. The next player in the book was Martins for carrying on rather. Despite the brandishing of cards Uriah Rennie struggled to stay in control.

After more comedy defending McCartney should have at least have found the target. Towards the end Ashton drew a fine save from Harper, Michael Owen appeared to handle in the area and then at the death Martins nearly won it.