London (AFP) - Nuno Espirito Santo celebrated his first win as West Ham manager on Sunday as his spirited team battled from behind to beat Newcastle 3-1 at the London Stadium.

The Hammers remain in the relegation zone after just their second Premier League win of the season but are now just three points behind 17th-placed Burnley, whom they play next week.

Eddie Howe’s Newcastle took the lead courtesy of a fine early strike from Jacob Murphy but Lucas Paqueta levelled and an own goal from the unfortunate Sven Botman gave the home team the advantage at half-time.

The visitors made wholesale changes in the second half but were blunt in attack and Tomas Soucek made sure of all three points for West Ham in the closing moments.

Nuno was appointed West Ham boss in late September, just over two weeks after he was sacked by Nottingham Forest, who are also in the drop zone.

The Portuguese, who has had to be patient in waiting for his first win, said it was “terrific to hear the noise at the London Stadium”.

“The players are realising that winning in the Premier League, we have to work very hard,” he told the BBC. “We will do it again. The win makes it easier, there are smiles and the legs feel easier.

“We see slight improvements on the pitch. We have to create a platform on the pitch.”

- Turnaround -

Murphy put Newcastle ahead in the fourth minute, fizzing a shot from the edge of the area just 26 seconds after Jarrod Bowen’s effort clattered off the post at the other end.

Referee Robert Jones awarded West Ham a penalty six minutes later, ruling that Bowen had been brought down by Malick Thiaw, but the decision was overturned after a VAR review as Thiaw had touched the ball.

The Hammers were deservedly level in the 35th minute when Paqueta hammered a sweet strike from outside the box past the sprawling Nick Pope.

And moments before half-time they were in front when a low cross from defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka was sliced into his own net by Botman, whose attempted interception left Pope stranded.

Howe brought on Fabian Schar, William Osula and Jacob Ramsey for Emil Krafth, Nick Woltemade and Anthony Gordon at half-time, later making further changes.

The visitors dominated possession but Pope was called into action twice in quick succession at the other end as West Ham threatened a third goal.

Hammers midfielder Freddie Potts had the ball in the net with just over 20 minutes remaining but the goal was ruled out for off-side.

Newcastle continued to probe but could not find an equaliser and Soucek had the last laugh, poking home deep into stoppage time.

It is West Ham’s first win at home in the Premier League since February while defeat leaves Newcastle 13th the table and still searching for their first league win of the season away from home.

“It wasn’t a great day for us,” said Howe. “The away form is something that will be talked about and discussed and is of course something that concerns us.”