Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe "frustrated" by West Ham draw

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has said that he is "frustrated" by his side's 1-1 draw with West Ham United this afternoon.

The Magpies registered 14 shots as they earned a draw which edges them five points clear of the relegation zone, with Joe Willock cancelling out Craig Dawson's opener.

However, Howe believes that his side could have gone on to claim all three points, despite being without key players such as Kieran Trippier, Allan Saint-Maximin and Callum Wilson.

"I'm satisfied with the point but frustrated it maybe wasn't more. The way we started the game was excellent. The only disappointment for me was that we only got one goal – there was more in it for us," he told BT Sport.

"Although we dominated they still had a threat in the game. That's what West Ham can do to you. We're disappointed that the free kick was poorly defended from our perspective. That's a frustration, but the character and response was there. With the balls we put into the box, it should have been more.

"Last season [Willock] scored some crucial goals for the club. This season, since I've come in, he's grown and grown and grown. That goal was coming. I'm really pleased for him because he deserved it today.

"It's frustrating that we're missing [players], but that's what the squad is for. We need other players to step up. Ryan [Fraser] is another player who I thought was excellent today. He's another player who's improving every week."

Newcastle, who are now unbeaten in their last five Premier League outings, next face Brentford on February 26.