JERMAINE JENAS was delighted to hit his first Premiership goal, but according to fellow goalscorer Craig Bellamy he could have been an even bigger hero on Saturday night.
Jenas cracked a super 20-yard volley to bring the scores level at Upton Park after 81 minutes - his second goal for Newcastle in as many games.
But in injury time, although Jenas did get on the end of a Laurent Robert free-kick, he couldn't get any power into his effort from eight yards which was easily gathered by David James.
And Bellamy said: "It was a great goal by JJ and it put us back in the match when we looked like we weren't going to get anything. After that it looked like there was only ever going to be one winner.
"JJ then missed a far easier chance at the death which could have won it for us.
"He scored the far more difficult of the chances but those things happens."
The player himself was just delighted to grab his first Premiership goal, 11 months after he made a £5m switch from Nottingham Forest.
"I managed to get my first goal for Newcastle in the FA Cup and I was hoping to build on that," said 19-year-old Jenas. "Thankfully I was able to do that." But Bellamy, who has just signed a new five-year contract with Newcastle worth £8m, thought a draw was a good result for the Magpies with the spotlight firmly focused on Lee Bowyer's debut for the Hammers.
"We could have got all three points especially as Kieron Dyer and myself caused them all sorts of problems," said Bellamy. "But we will settle for point because it's a difficult time to play them after they had been boosted by the signing of Lee Bowyer.
"But a point isn't much good at the bottom in the same way as it isn't much good for us at the other end of the table.
"I know all about struggling at the wrong end of the table and it's not a nice place to be."
Bellamy's mind however is now firmly focused on the right end of the Premiership.
The Wales international wants to help Newcastle secure another Champions League berth, and his manager is delighted he has tied himself to Newcastle for years to come.
"He's a player to have in your side," said Robson. "He's extremely penetrative, he wants the ball in between defenders and behind defenders.
"He's a handful and on Saturday he took his goal really well. He's a real worker. We've signed him on a new long contract and happily he's ours for the next five years."
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