Newcastle new-boys outperform their West Ham counterparts as fine Mikel Merino performance highlights resourcefulness of Rafa Benitez

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It seems like some kind of practical joke that Newcastle United’s shirt sponsor is a Far Eastern gaming company called ‘Fun.’

There’s not much of that in this place and it is with a sense of longing for the values this club’s owners used to hold dear that they were pushing tickets for an evening with Bob Moncur, legend for 12 years from 1962, on the stadium screens.

It started out like a Groundhog Day. Another sell-out, same old weight of Tyneside expectation, a manager making little pretence in the build-up of the dysfunctionality of life behind the scenes.

Mikel Merino put on a fine display as Newcastle United beat West Ham 3-0 on Saturday

But though the idea of a long-term stay here has significantly dropped out of Rafael Benitez’s talk, here was the evidence of what he brings when the politics is taken out: an eye for a player, the workings of this game and for potential when there seems little at his disposal.

His limited funds have seen him acquire players he and Newcastle could well do without but one of the few he was determined to bring here was Mikel Merino. The 21-year-old on loan from Borussia Dortmund demonstrated precisely why.

Though it was a game which did little to dispel the notion that both sides faces a long winter, Merino provided class amid the trench warfare.

When Andre Ayew chased him down in possession midway through the first half, it looked like it would be an early reminder of the physicality on display in the dogfights which populate the Premier League’s lower reaches.

Merino, above right celebrating with goalscorer Joselu, was superb in midfield for the Magpies

Merino had eased the ball away to the right flank before he hit the turf and it was Ayew who took the punishment, cracking the bridge of his nose, which had to be patched up.

Poise, watchfulness, the eye for space: Merino had offed all of these before his major contribution to the goal which burst the collective tension of a place which knew what a third defeat would bring.

When Matt Ritchie had dispossessed young Declan Rice deep in West Ham territory on 36 minutes, it was Merino who collected the loose ball and delivered it with precision for Christian Atsu to race onto and cross for centre forward Joselu to score.

The striker’s selection, ahead of the local folk hero Aleksandr Mitrovic, was a demonstration of Benitez’s willingness to disregard popular opinion. But it was a third of his signings – the 22-year-old Isaac Hayden, collected from Arsenal last season - whose contribution was also striking.

There will be tougher challenges than this but his strong-running and smart touch set Newcastle on their way. It was Hayden’s smart return pass to Matt Ritchie which preceded the cross Ciaran Clark headed home to seal the match.

The 21-year-old Spaniard, wearing No 23, was a summer loan signing from Borussia Dortmund

West Ham’s new personnel did not acquit themselves. The 18-year-old Rice’s error was a reminder of how brutal this game can be, when his inclusion in the side had been reward for his contributions in the past three weeks.

He chased back desperately to place a retrieving tackle, to no avail. He was substituted at half time and Manuel Lanzini did bring more rigour.

But there were more significant culprits. Newcastle’s second and third was a defensive calamities. Neither James Collins nor Pablo Zabaleta leaping for the cross. Joe Hart did not look commanding.

He has not kept a clean sheet for five months now. Javier Hernandez was too pre-occupied with complaints to officials and opponents.

Benitez’s name was booming around the stadium again by the end and the nervous tension had lifted. It will probably be a temporary state of affairs.Fun while it lasted, though.

Rafa Benitez is frustrated by a lack of funds, but he has done great business to land Merino