Newcastle United 0-3 West Ham: Hernandez and Anderson seal win at Benitez's Newcastle

Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez said the difference in transfer budgets was a key reason as to why his side lost to fellow mid-table side West Ham.

Javier Hernandez, a £16m-signing in 2017, with two goals and a late strike from £36m summer capture Felipe Anderson ended the Magpies' run of three successive wins. The visiting attack also included Marko Arnautovic, who cost the London club £20m last season.

In contrast to the Hammers, who spent close to £100m in the last transfer window, Newcastle made a net profit of £20m from their transactions.

Benitez said: "They have spent the money on offensive players and they made the difference.

"We are working on [signings in January], but it is a question of money. What they spend, what we spend, you can see that on the pitch.

All 48 of Javier Hernandez's (left) Premier League goals have come from inside the box, with only Tim Cahill posting a better 100% record (56/56 from inside the box)

"I cannot complain of the effort of the players or the commitment but again today we had chances, but they scored theirs."

Hernandez grabbed his first in the 11th minute, just as some Newcastle fans were taking to their seats following a "walk-in protest" against the club owner - had they waited another minute they would not have witnessed the calamitous defending from their side.

Robert Snodgrass was allowed to run down the left and deliver an in-swinging cross for his Mexican team-mate who got himself in front of Federico Fernandez to poke in.

Hernandez then missed a couple of great chances before he fired home the second from Arnautovic's flick-on.

And with the final kick of the game, Anderson capped off an exceptional display by slotting in West Ham's third under the body of keeper Martin Dubravka.

The victory was only the Hammers' second in the league at Newcastle since 1998, and moves them into 13th spot, on 15 points, Newcastle drop down to 14th and have 12 points.

• Reaction to Saturday's Premier League action

West Ham show they are a class above

Javier Hernandez (right), who won two Premier League titles with Manchester United, signed for the Hammers from Bayer Leverkusen for £16m in 2017

West Ham's heavy home defeat by Manchester City last week was an anomaly because of the stature of their opponents. At St James' Park, the Hammers found themselves against a team with similar aspirations for the season and on the same number of points - however, by full-time it was quite stark that there was a difference in quality between the two sides.

A large chunk of West Ham's summer transfer budget went on midfielder Anderson who produced a man-of-the-match performance that showcased his surging runs and great range of passing.

He deservedly got on the scoresheet with seconds remaining when he brushed off a weak challenge from Fabian Schar to slot home. The Brazilian had also provided a brilliant ball for Hernandez, who should have hit the target instead of the side-netting with the score at 1-0.

The Mexican got the ball rolling with a close-range finish in the first-half, and finally scored his second on 63 minutes when he latched on to Arnautovic's header and fired low past Newcastle's Czech keeper.

Pelegrini praised his attack after the match.

"Arnautovic, Anderson, Snodgrass and Hernandez, four players - all of them have quality, all of them have pace, they have ability, that's the point," said the Chilean.

"It wasn't just one player today. The four offensive players and the players in the middle that they had, they are quite good and will create problems against anyone."

Newcastle back down to earth with a bump

After a run of three wins against mid-table sides which pulled them out of the relegation mire, this defeat suggested that Newcastle face another fight to stay in the league.

They created few clear chances. Ayoze Perez headed high over the bar when he should have hit the target, while fellow forward Salomon Rondon had two efforts blocked by Aaron Cresswell.

Newcastle brought on Joselu to try to boost the attack, but instead of lifting the home support he brought out derision with a woeful cross in the area which summed up his side's day.

Man of the match - Felipe Anderson (West Ham)

The Hammers have a midfielder that, at his best, could probably find a place in the squad of any of the top teams

The Magpies as bad as 1953-54 team - the stats

• Newcastle have lost their first Premier League game against West Ham since September 2015, having won three on the bounce against the Hammers prior to today.

• West Ham recorded their biggest Premier League victory against Newcastle at St James' Park since October 1998 (also 3-0).

• Newcastle have lost six of their opening eight Premier League games at St. James' Park this season (W2) - the Magpies last suffered as many defeats in their opening eight home league games of a season during the 1953-54 campaign (P8 W2 D0 L6).

• West Ham have kept their first away clean sheet of the season and their first on the road in the competition since their final away game of the 2017-18 campaign against Leicester (2-0).

• Anderson has scored four goals in his last four Premier League games having netted just one in his opening 10 appearances in the competition for the Hammers.

• Hernandez's brace was his first in the Premier League since August 2017 in a 2-3 defeat against Southampton.

What's next?

West Ham are at home to Cardiff on Tuesday (19:45 GMT) and Newcastle are away at Everton on Wednesday (19:45 GMT).