All eyes were on debutant Lee Bowyer on Saturday but it was Newcastle's Jermaine Jenas who stole the show with a superb late equaliser that earned his side a valuable point.
Kieron Dyer returned to midfield at the expense of Nolberto Solano, with Shola Ameobi partnering Craig Bellamy in attack in place of the suspended Alan Shearer.
Against the run of play Newcastle took the lead when a great move involving Andy Griffin, Ameobi and Jenas was finished in fine style by Bellamy.
The lead didn't last long however as Steve Caldwell - returning at centre-back - cleared straight to Joe Cole who made no mistake from ten yards.
The rampant Hammers took the lead on the stroke of half-time through Jermain Defoe turned Caldwell inside out before firing home.
Newcastle withstood sustained pressure from the home side and then hit back late through Jenas.
A mis-timed clearance from Christian Daily fell to Jenas at the edge of the box and quick as a flash he chested the ball onto his left foot to volley brilliantly home for the his second goal in as many games.
It could have been even better for Jenas but after getting on the end of a Laurent Robert free-kick in the dying seconds he just couldn't steer the ball home from just six yards out.
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