Rafa Benitez's side crusied past the 'hammers' in the end to record their first win of the new Premier League season.
The first half an hour at St James’ Park was notable only for just how little action took place. Both sides looked unwilling to commit too many men forward as they felt each other out.
Newcastle looked the more threatening in the first half hour, albeit mainly from set-pieces.
The hosts first threatened as Hayden exchanged passes with Ritchie before sending across a low ball in from the right but Joselu was unable to guide an effort goalwards on that occasion.
Christian Atsu saw a header deflected behind by Pablo Zabaleta as Newcastle looked for the opener before Hayden fizzed an effort just over the bar from the edge of the box.
The game was then delayed for some five minutes as Andre Ayew received treatment for a head wound sustained in a challenge with Merino.
When play eventually restarted Javi Manquillo almost found the far corner with a mis-hit cross from the right before Cresswell saw a volley at the back post clear Rob Elliot’s crossbar.
On the 36 minute mark, the hosts took the lead with the first shot on target of the game.
Youngster Declan Rice was dispossessed in the West Ham midfield and Merino burst forward to play in Atsu. The Ghanaian was one-on-one with Joe Hart but he unselfishly pulled the ball back for debutant Joselu to tap into an empty net.
Atsu seemed to grow in confidence from that moment with Newcastle’s best play coming through the former Chelsea man.
Just before half-time the 25-year-old received the ball on the halfway line before driving forward and forcing Joe Hart into a low save.
Newcastle lead at the break, with West Ham failing to record a shot on target in the first half.
Slaven Bilic brought on Manuel Lanzini at half time as he looked to find a way back into the game.
Whether down to the change or not, West Ham looked more positive in the second half, with Aaron Cresswell finding himself more advanced down the left hand side.
Matt Ritchie fired wide for Newcastle before Cresswell drew an error from Rob Elliot in the Newcastle goal.
The left-back hit a fierce effort from range that the Irish stopper could only palm straight into the path of Javier Hernandez. The Mexican forced the ball back towards goal only for a combination of a weak hand from Elliot and a goal-line clearance from Clark to deny him the equaliser.
The game turned scrappy briefly as a series of injuries interrupted the flow of things.
The hosts had a great chance to double their lead just after the hour mark, Perez did a great job of holding the ball up in the right channel and he found the onrushing Matt Ritchie. The Scotland international bore down on goal but Joe Hart was equal to his low effort, with Ogbonna managing to clear the loose ball from under the nose of Joselu.
Newcastle did eventually double their lead and it came from an unlikely source. Defender Ciaran Clark was the man to make the points safe for the hosts as he headed home Matt Ritchie’s inch-perfect cross from the right after the Scot dispossessed Manuel Lanzini by the corner flag.
The home side were visibly boosted by that second goal and the hosts played with a new-found freedom for the last 15 minutes of the game.
Ritchie saw a shot blocked and Aleksandar Mitrovic headed wide as the ‘magpies’ looked to add some gloss to the scoreline.
West Ham, for their part, looked a spent force as they slipped to a third straight defeat of the new season
Newcastle did manage to extend their winning margin late on, with Mitrovic rounding Hart after being found by Perez.
Rafa Benitez's side are off the mark on their return to the Premier League, whilst West Ham's winless run in the league extends to three games.