NEWCASTLE UNITED CLIMBED out of the Premier League relegation zone with a vital 2-1 victory over in-form West Ham at St James’ Park.
Ayoze Perez gave Newcastle the lead after just six minutes, bending a brilliant first-time shot into Adrian’s bottom corner from the edge of the penalty area.
Newcastle’s fine start continued when Georginio Wijnaldum converted Daryl Janmaat’s cross from close range with a quarter of an hour gone, with Jonjo Shelvey involved in both goals on his debut for the club.
West Ham were gifted a goal two minutes after half-time, substitute Nikica Jelavic slotting home after a mistake by Chancel Mbemba.
But Steve McClaren’s side held on for a first Premier League win in six attempts to move them into 17th place, above Swansea City, who play Watford on Monday.
Meanwhile, a first league defeat in nine outings means West Ham lose ground on the top four.
Southampton claimed back-to-back victories in the league for the first time since early November thanks to a James Ward-Prowse double in their 3-0 win over West Brom.
The England Under-21 midfielder had scored just once in his previous 92 top-flight appearances for the Saints, but took his tally to three with a superb free-kick and well-placed penalty, before Dusan Tadic completed the win.
After thumping home the game’s opener early on, Ward-Prowse bagged his second after 35 minutes following a clumsy challenge by Craig Dawson on Matt Targett.
Sadio Mane wasted a fine chance for Southampton’s third early in the second half, before Victor Anichebe volleyed West Brom’s best opening wide.
The game’s third goal did come eventually, though, as substitute Tadic secured the three points for Ronald Koeman’s side - the Serbian firing home nine minutes after replacing Mane.
Victory moves Southampton into the top 10 and brings West Brom’s three-match unbeaten run to an abrupt halt on Tony Pulis’ 58th birthday.
Elsewhere, goals from Dan Gosling, Charlie Daniels and recent signing Benik Afobe secured Bournemouth a straightforward 3-0 victory over fellow strugglers Norwich City at the Vitality Stadium.
Eddie Howe’s men were in full control virtually from the outset and richly deserved what was their most convincing Premier League win to date, leapfrogging Norwich in the process to boost their chances of top-flight survival.
The visitors never recovered from Gosling’s 10th-minute opener and remain precariously just above the drop zone.
Daniels added a second from the penalty spot nine minutes into the second half after Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe had brought down Marc Pugh.
And Afobe put the seal on a significant three points 15 minutes from time when he netted his first goal for the club following his big-money move from Wolves earlier this month, with Bournemouth ending a four-game winless league streak.
