Felipe Anderson believes West Ham United are primed to go on a winning run after beating Newcastle United 3-0 at St James’ Park.
The Brazil winger was at his scintillating best on Saturday, running the Magpies ragged, leading counter-attack after counter attack and scoring his fifth goal of the season to complete a deserved away victory.
The Hammers have not won back-to-back Premier League matches in nearly two years, but with home games against Cardiff City and Crystal Palace this week, Felipe Anderson says that record is primed to be broken if they can reproduce the same level of performance as they did at Newcastle.
Now we expect to change that flow and manage to have a streak of victories to realise our potential. We have the will and the quality to do it
Felipe Anderson
“I’m very happy because we played a good match and I scored a goal and the most important thing, that the team got the three points,” the No8 began. “I think that the potential was always there but we managed to get a very important victory against a very hard rival.
“It was great to be able to score first so we could use my characteristics and my teammates to launch counter-attacks and we were very happy to be able to dictate the rhythm of the game. We managed to withstand their pressure when we were leading 1-0 and we were clever looking for the second to close the game.
“Certainly, this season we haven’t been able to be consistent. We play very well one match and then the next one we can’t manage to sustain the same level of performance but now we expect to change that flow and manage to have a streak of victories to realise our potential. We have the will and the quality to do it.”
Felipe Anderson’s personal performance reminded West Ham fans once again why the club spent a record fee to bring him to east London from Italian club Lazio in the summer.
Time and again, he raced down the left wing, combining superbly with his teammates and providing a constant threat with his speed, dribbling and technical ability.
After being denied once by Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka, the 25-year-old showed no ill-effects when he was played in by Jack Wilshere late on and finished clinically past the Slovakian.
“I always had confidence that I could score, before that one I had a chance in front of the keeper but couldn’t finish it, and it was until the very end when I managed to score yet another goal that gives me confidence to keep on doing good things for the team,” he confirmed.
Felipe Anderson’s performance earned rave reviews from the Claret and Blue Army, who enjoyed just West Ham’s second win at Newcastle since 1998.
Having entertained them at St James’ Park, the winger hopes to give the fans more to cheer over the coming weeks and months, starting with Tuesday’s visit of Cardiff to London Stadium.
“The fans are incredible!” he smiled. “Always supporting, at home and away, even with this cold!
“The atmosphere in the games that they create is amazing and I’m very happy for their support and to be able to count on them.”