The relegation pass-the-parcel has been tossed into West Ham’s lap and the music is about to stop after this abject surrender to Newcastle United.
There is not a present waiting for them to unwrap, there is a bomb ready to explode. The economic and reputational damage will be severe and West Ham only have themselves to blame.
They were serenaded with chants of “you’re not fit to wear the shirt” after the final whistle. They deserved to hear them, the players hanging their heads in shame or standing dejectedly with hands on hip listening to the anger raining down from above.
West Ham United are all but relegated following their defeat by Newcastle United – Scott Heppell/Reuters
“It hurts a lot, of course,” Nuno said when asked about that reaction to the defeat. “This is our job, this is our life, but the fans are right and today they show their anger and frustration. They have reasons to. It hurts, it hurts the boys, it hurts us, it hurts the club.
“That’s why this week we should finish the season with dignity and respect for the fans. We should do better so we can show at the London Stadium, to our fans, a different performance and attitude in terms of the game.
“Anything is possible. Let’s wait for Tuesday. Even though it’s difficult, we’re still alive. Let’s see. There’s some hope…”
There might not be for much longer. If Tottenham can secure a win away to Chelsea on Tuesday night, they are doomed. Even if Spurs get a point at Stamford Bridge, given West Ham’s vastly inferior goal difference, it is over.
In a game West Ham had to win, they flopped and folded. Newcastle were dominant, producing their best performance for weeks at the worst possible time for Nuno’s side, but West Ham were so weak and timid.
They allowed themselves to be bullied and were three goals down before they showed the fight and spirit required to save themselves. It was too little too late. This disaster has been coming.
West Ham have been an unhappy club for years, playing in a stadium the supporters do not like, led by a board the fans stopped respecting so long ago they have forgotten what it felt like to be unified.
They have been a zombie club, drifting aimlessly towards this moment. They have existed as a Premier League club and little more for too long. They remind you of the Newcastle United that suffered two relegations in eight years under former owner Mike Ashley. Unhappy, divided and a chore to follow. West Ham supporters still love their club but it has felt like an abusive relationship for a while and relegation will confirm they were right to be worried about what their future together looked like.
West Ham were the architects of their own demise. Nuno described it as a “game of mistakes” and said opponents should have to “work much harder to score”. His decision to start with a back three was in tatters inside 20 minutes.
The first came from a loose pass from Mads Hermansen, the goalkeeper, but the lack of hunger to retrieve or win a tackle on Harvey Barnes was woeful. Barnes showed great composure to pick out an unmarked Nick Woltemade for his first Premier League goal since December. The Germany international is 6ft 6in but was left unattended by the West Ham defence for a simple finish.
Newcastle were playing with a fluency and vibrancy not seen for weeks and they extended their lead with a crisp passing move through West Ham’s press. The final ball from Jacob Ramsey to William Osula was perfect and he shot through the legs of the goalkeeper.
West Ham had to come out with fire in the second half, but Newcastle continued to look the sharper of the two and scored a third when Joe Willock combined with Osula for the Dane to score the home team’s third.
The young Dane has fully justified Eddie Howe’s decision to give him a run in the side, scoring six goals in just eight games. Those are Alexander Isak-type numbers and the team have looked far better with his pace to run in behind leading the line.
“He is a player of vast potential and we have worked really hard on his game,” Howe said. “He has to stay humble, he still has a lot of work to do but he has a presence up front, speed and power. We felt he deserved a run in the side and he has repaid that faith.”
When the third goal went in West Ham already looked beaten.
It took a wonderful goal from Taty Castellanos to spark some hope and some belief, a long punt from the goalkeeper, bouncing once before he twisted his body in the air and blasted the ball beyond Pope.
There was still 21 minutes left to play and had another Castellanos shot gone under the bar rather than whack against it, you would have fancied West Ham to score a third given Newcastle’s inability to hold on to leads this season.
Clinging to the idea this was bad luck would be an error. West Ham are where they are because they deserve to be. The reasons for their relegation stretch much further back than this game or even this season. They have been a club in decline who have finally reached the bottom.
08:16pm Reaction
Howe sees ‘very good’ moments but targets ‘stronger’ summer
Eddie Howe has been talking to Sky Sports, and he was relatively happy with the performance.
He told the broadcaster: “It wasn’t the perfect game from us but it was very good in phases, especially in the first half I thought we were excellent with the ball and really creative. We have seen big progression in the last weeks, a much better performance.
“It has always been our hallmark, we want to see big energy from the players and take the game to the opposition, and we want to have the quality. We haven’t always been able to put that together in the Premier League, hence our position, but we are showing signs that we are finding our form.”
With Trippier getting a send-off and a standing ovation from supporters, Howe paid tribute to the veteran defender.
He added: “You never quite know how any transfer will go when you bring a player in. I was pretty sure he would help us because I had worked with him before and I knew what we were getting. The consistency he has shown. The quality he has shown.
“The key thing for me, which people don’t probably see, is how he has been really good in the difficult moments. There’s been a lot of success but there have been a few choppy times and he has always been a real stable presence in the dressing room.”
Howe then targeted “big change” with the transfer market ahead. Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes are all potential departures, and Nick Woltemade is one of several more linked with moves away.
He continued: “It’s a big summer for us, a huge summer for the football club. The results of how you finish the season give hope for the next and that is what we are trying to do. You never know what can happen. It does feel it has the potential to be that summer for us, but regardless of big change or not we have to come out of that transfer window stronger.”
08:06pm Reaction
Santo wants to end season with ‘dignity’ after ‘really bad’ performance
West Ham head coach Nuno Espirito Santo appears largely resigned to relegation.
Given Spurs need a point to be safe unless something bizarre happens with goal difference, he is understandably pessimistic now.
Speaking to Sky Sports, he admits that the players did not try enough, and that there were tactical errors too.
He said: “We had a big disadvantage because we conceded two goals, but the game was not lost. We tried to react but the way we conceded was poor. Even though we tried to react it was not enough. I saw mistakes, the disorganisation of the team, we were too open, allowing Newcastle to play. It was a very difficult match for us.”
He denies he is disappointed by the players, but the most he can conjure up is the hope to end the season with, “dignity,” saying: “No, no. Let’s look at the game. We started poor, we were soft. The way we conceded the first goal and second goal, everything is much harder. Let’s try to finish the season with dignity and respect for the club. It is a hard week ahead of us but we owe it to the club to try until the end.
“Of course I understand [supporters’ anger].They are frustrated and disappointed with what they saw today, and with reason. A team that has been struggling through the season but with better attitude and more fighting spirit, so when the fans don’t see it they show their frustrations.
“The way we started the game was really bad but like I said we have been trying to improve and get better. Today was not a step forward. We have to realise our situation is very, very difficult, a lot of anxiety and nerves and these things don’t help, but we have to take responsibility.”
07:56pm Reaction
Keane says West Ham damage ‘self inflicted’
Keane is still going.
He observes: “This is all self-inflicted. If you lose a game but Newcastle are brilliant, that’s one thing but their own throw-in took out three of their own players.
“I bet you Newcastle couldn’t believe their luck. They haven’t been great recently and they gifted them the game. This team was not fighting for their lives. They gifted goals and the table doesn’t lie, they deserve to be where they are, this is all schoolboy stuff.”
Fernandes admitted as much, that they started poorly. They improved over the course of the game, so it is clear the players can do it at certain points. It is not ability holding them back as much as it is their focus.
07:52pm Reaction
Fernandes says ‘we missed everything’
West Ham midfielder Mateus Fernandes tells Sky Sports: “The first 20 minutes was so painful for us. We have been training all week to do one thing, and we arrived here and didn’t do it.
“This week we just need to believe and do our things. It is our responsibility and we need to do much better.
“It needs to be us always. Since the first day it is the players who decide the games. Everyone needs to take responsibility for this moment and be a man.
“This is football. We need to be positive because we have one more game. It is one game that can change everything. We could have put pressure on Tottenham, but now it is difficult.
“We didn’t play with full fight and spirit like against Arsenal. We missed everything – fight, energy, second balls we were every time late.”
Looking ahead to Tuesday’s game at Chelsea for Tottenham Hotspur, he says: “It is very hard to think about the future. One game to try to win. It is difficult. Everything can happen. Hopefully they lose against Chelsea and in the last match we go with everything. We have to believe.”
07:50pm Reaction
Richards describes ‘catalogue of errors’
In their analysis of West Ham’s first-half defending on Sky, Micah Richards and Roy Keane were left deeply unimpressed.
Richards explains: “Straight from the start, individual errors. I think maybe because they need a result they thought they could get at Newcastle.
“Goalkeeper has made a mistake and Fernandes made a mistake. A catalogue of errors. Do you want to be going to Newcastle knowing they want to press, and trying to play out from the back?”
Keane adds: “Players make mistakes, that’s the name of the game. It’s what you do after that. You try and cover for your team mates. West Ham fighting for their lives.
“Fernandes has to get out there, he does nothing. Fighting for their lives but they didn’t show that. When you start a game like that, it’s a long way back.”
07:39pm Reaction
Osula ‘delighted’ as Newcastle still in hunt for Europe
Newcastle goalscorer William Osula told Sky Sports: “We’re delighted. It was very important to get the three points, especially in the last home game.
“It’s important to get the first goals and be ready at the start of the game, so we’re glad we started strong.
“We’ve got our heads down in training and worked hard to make sure we finish the season strong. Everybody wants to do the best for the club.
“Everybody wants to play football and I thank God that I’m playing now. It’s the best feeling, it’s always nice to get on the scoresheet.”
07:31pm
Castellanos strike
Despite being in vain, this effort is well worth your time.
07:30pm
Full time: Newcastle 3 West Ham 1
Three games in a row lost for West Ham.
They have one game left, and Tottenham Hotspur are two points clear.
Spurs go to Chelsea on Tuesday, so things are far from guaranteed, but West Ham’s momentum is long gone.
Newcastle showed some teeth, and some chaos. Bruno Guimaraes’ evident frustration does not augur well.
07:26pm
90+5 minutes: Newcastle 3 West Ham 1
Guimaraes probably should be booked for a wild and reckless smack into Summerville’s legs.
West Ham have a free-kick in a dangerous position, but Castellanos does not threaten.
07:22pm
90 minutes: Newcastle 3 West Ham 1
Guimaraes and Willock appear to exchange harsh words after Willock wins a corner with a shot.
The midfield captain presumably wanted the ball and did not get it.
Seven minutes of added time indicated.
07:17pm
86 minutes: Newcastle United 3 West Ham 1
Trippier is saluted by the crowd as he is subbed off in his final home appearance.
Osula also comes off.
07:14pm
83 minutes: Newcastle United 3 West Ham 1
Summervilled rides a challenge from Trippier who lunges at him desperately, and then Hall gets the booking Trippier was aiming for, after he tugs the forward back.
07:11pm
82 minutes: Newcastle United 3 West Ham 1
Kante is booked for kicking the ball away after conceding a foul. Time is running out for West Ham. As their time in the Premier League might be too.
07:09pm
78 minutes: Newcastle United 3 West Ham 1
A cross falls to Castellanos at the back post.
It bounces it up invitingly, and he hooks a volley to crash the ball against the crossbar, with Pope well beaten.
07:07pm
75 minutes: Newcastle United 3 West Ham 1
Woltemade and Barnes off for Jacob Murphy and Dan Burn. Perhaps Howe has seen enough of his skittish players and is giving them a chance to get back on top of the game.
07:06pm
74 minutes: Newcastle United 3 West Ham 1
Newcastle are rattled.
Bowen strikes forward and hits a low shot at goal. Anywhere else might have had Pope struggling, but he stopped it well enough.
07:05pm
73 minutes: Newcastle United 3 West Ham 1
West Ham have a review for a penalty after Hall made contact with Wilson, but there is no penalty given.
07:00pm Key moments
GOAL! 69 minutes: Newcastle United 3 West Ham 1 – Castellanos scores
A quite ridiculous goal.
A long ball from the keeper bounces, and reaches Castellanos about 25 yards out.
The forward tries a preposterous bicycle kick, which is also a lob, and clears Pope to score one of the best goals of the season. It’s probably too little, too late, but who knows now?
06:56pm Key moments
65 minutes: GOAL! Newcastle 3 West Ham 0 – Osula scores
The young forward gets his second.
Osula carries the ball forward and finds Willock peeling off down the right-hand side.
Willock returns the favour for Osula’s run into the box, and he sidefoots the ball past Hermansen.
06:55pm
62 minutes: Newcastle 2 West Ham 0
A one-two from Summervilled gets him into the box but Thiaw hurls himself in the way to block his effort, and win a goal kick.
Pablo and Kante are on for Soucek and Wan-Bissaka. Santo need to chase at least a point.
06:51pm
59 minutes: Newcastle 2 West Ham 0
Soucek is booked for a heavy challenge on Guimaraes. He bundled him over, and had a few kicks with the ball on the player.
Guimaraes looks ready to throw hands, seriously cheesed off, but he appears to escape a yellow.
06:49pm
57 minutes: Newcastle 2 West Ham 0
Hermansen beats away a decent effort from Hall, and Newcastle keep up the pressure.
Guimaraes then shoots a little further back, outside the box, and he can only find the roof of the net.
06:47pm Opinion
Tonali’s final appearance?
Loud chants of Eddie Howe’s black and white army spreading around St James’ Park in what has been a slow start to the second half.
Sandro Tonali has just gone off with an injury. Is that the last time we see the Italy international in a Newcastle shirt?
06:45pm
53 minutes: Newcastle 2 West Ham 0
Joe Willock is on to replace Tonali. That should not change things drastically.
06:44pm
52 minutes: Newcastle 2 West Ham 0
Sandro Tonali is down getting some treatment.
It looks like a change is being prepared. Given this is more or less a dead rubber, it seems pointless to take a risk.
06:40pm
49 minutes: Newcastle 2 West Ham 0
Diouf is crowded out by Trippier and Thiaw in the box. He goes to ground but nobody really has the heart to properly appeal for a penalty.
06:37pm
46 minutes: Newcastle 2 West Ham 0
We go gain. The second half gets started.
06:24pm
Newcastle in charge
There will be some happiness that Nick Woltemade has sparked back into life.
It may not be enough to change a potential return to Germany in the summer, but it is a reminder that he is a dangerous player near the goal, and further back too.
William Osula, though, has looked the better of the pair.
William Osula celebrates his goal for Newcastle United against West Ham United – Owen Humphreys/PA
06:22pm
Half-time: Newcastle 2 West Ham 0
Newcastle can be relatively satisfied with that half. Two early goals had them on top, but they are finding things harder now West Ham have gone to four at the back.
West Ham look better, but pretty toothless for most of the game so far. Santo may need at least one more tweak to his setup over the break.
06:17pm
44 minutes: Newcastle 2 West Ham 0
West Ham are sitting deep, definitely more comfortable now.
However, Woltemade finds Barnes in space, and his low shot from distance is easily stopped.
We are expecting three minutes of added time to be indicated.
06:14pm
41 minutes: Newcastle 2 West Ham 0
Diouf curls in a free kick from about 40 yards out, but it’s overhit and out for a goal kick.
West Ham need one before half-time if they are to get some belief they can turn this around.
06:09pm Video
36 minutes: Newcastle 2 West Ham 0
Osula cannot bring down a ball over the top scooped from Guimaraes.
The home side have largely been on the back foot since the West Ham sub.
06:06pm Opinion
‘Not really a laughing matter for West Ham’
Jean Clair Todibo was the sacrificial lamb for West Ham, taken off after 26 minutes with his team two goals down. Nuno switched from a three man defence to a four and it has improved things.
Tobido was smiling as he came off and seemed to share a joke with someone sitting on the bench as he sat down. Not really a laughing matter for West Ham, who have been a little better since the tactical adjustment. Nick Pope made one brilliant save to claw Taty Castellanos first time shot away and another to block the follow up from Diouf.
06:03pm Video
31 minutes: Newcastle 2 West Ham 0
Take a look at Osula’s goal here.
06:02pm
29 minutes: Newcastle 2 West Ham 0
Castellanos goes close.
Summerville sprints into the box from the inside-left channel, and tees up Castellanos with a cross.
He shapes his body expertly to fire a shot at goal, but Pope darts out an arm to beat it away well.
05:58pm
26 minutes: Newcastle 2 West Ham 0
West Ham make an early change.
Nuno is moving from three to four at the back. Jean-Clair Todibo is off, and Valentin Castellanos is on.
Two up front for the visitors now as they chase the game and look to get some more stability.
05:55pm Opinion
‘By far the better side’
Newcastle have been by far the better side and fully deserves its two-goal lead against an abject West Ham.
It’s Nick Woltemade’s first Premier League goal since December and credit must go to Harvey Barnes who picked up a loose pass from goalkeeper Mads Hermansen and then kept his composure to advance to the byline and wait for the right pass. Woltemade is almost 6 foot six and was left unmarked on the edge of the six yard box. West Ham have not played well but that was particularly bad defending. I suppose in their defence, Newcastle did have plenty of players in the box but you cannot leave a striker unmarked that close to goal.
The second was equally devastating, Jacob Ramsey’s pass slicing through the middle of the defence for William Osula to score through the legs of the goalkeeper.
05:51pm Key moments
18 minutes: GOAL! Newcastle 2 West Ham 0 – Osula scores
The home side are running away with it.
Osula receives a through ball from the right, he skips away from Disasi, and cuts the ball into the far post with a low finish.
That is his eighth of the season, and West Ham are looking ragged now.
05:47pm Key moments
GOAL! Newcastle 1 West Ham 0 – Woltemade scores
The home side are ahead through the German forward.
Barnes grabs possession on the right and drives into the box without any challenge. He pulls the ball back for an unmarked Woltemade, who hooks a volley home. His first goal in 18 Premier League games.
Barnes seizes possession on the right and drives into the box without any challenge. He pulls the ball back for an unmarked Woltemade, who hooks a volley home. His first goal in 18 Premier League games.
05:44pm
12 minutes: Newcastle 0 West Ham 0
Osula finds room down the middle to run into, but his shot from distance is deflected behind for the keeper to gather.
There’s a check for a push from Barnes on Soucek, which led to a handball, but nothing is given.
05:42pm
11 minutes: Newcastle 0 West Ham 0
Woltemade wins the first corner, on the right wing.
It’s worked to Guimaraes on the right wing, but his whipped, low cross goes straight into the keeper’s arms.
05:38pm
6 minutes: Newcastle 0 West Ham
Plenty of possession for the home side so far, but save for a cross that William Osula fails to connect with, no chances of note.
05:37pm Opinion
4 minutes: Newcastle 0 West Ham 0
West Ham supporters tried to drown out Trippier’s pre-match speech as he thanked the fans for the love they have shown him and his family for the last four years.
The travelling fans started singing Forever Blowing Bubbles as soon as he got the microphone while the home crowd tried to listen to Trippier speak. Some of his Newcastle teammates, who were also trying to listen, directed hostile glares toward the away section. It will be interesting to see if that “show of disrespect” fires up the home dressing room.
05:32pm
1 minute: Newcastle 0 West Ham 0
The match gets underway.
05:23pm
Howe expects ‘dangerous’ Wilson
Eddie Howe hopes his defence are able to contend with the “dangerous” Callum Wilson, noting he and his players are well acquainted with the forward.
Callum Wilson – Scott Heppell/Reuters
05:16pm
Santo wants ‘goals’ from Wilson
Nuno Espirito Santo says he expects goals from Callum Wilson today, noting he is up against his former club.
The experienced forward almost left West Ham mid-season, but has sparked into life in recent months after staying on.
05:05pm
Newcastle could climb to 10th
A win for the home side could move them into 10th spot, depending on the margin of victory.
Eddie Howe is reportedly safe in his post for now, despite an underwhelming season.
Signings such as Nick Woltemade have not done enough this season, and with players like Anthony Gordon likely leaving, there is an opportunity for an overhaul in the summer.
A couple of wins to end the season may give some small amount of optimism going into those changes.
05:01pm
A win for West Ham
Three points would take them on 39, one more than Spurs’ current total. That would put the pressure on Roberto De Zerbi’s side to get something from their match on Tuesday at Stamford Bridge, which is far from a sure thing.
Jarrod Bowen has been the danger man recently, with seven assists in his last nine league games.
04:51pm
Wilson replaces Castellanos
West Ham starting XI: Hermansen, Todibo, Mavropanos, Disasi, Wan-Bissaka, Soucek, Fernandes, Diouf, Bowen, Wilson, Summerville.
Subs: Areola, Walker-Peters, Kilman, Taty, Pablo, Magassa, Scarles, Potts, Kante.
Valentin Castellanos is replaced by Callum Wilson, who faces his old club.
04:45pm
Trippier makes final home start for Newcastle
Newcastle starting XI: Pope, Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, Hall, Guimaraes, Tonali, Barnes, Woltemade, Ramsey, Osula.
Subs: Ramsdale, Wissa, Gordon, Elanga, J.Murphy, Willock, Burn, A.Murphy, Neave.
04:41pm Key moments
Hammers fighting for survival at St. James’ Park
Welcome to Telegraph Sport’s live coverage of Newcastle United vs West Ham United.
The business end of the Premier League season guarantees drama, but few games today carry the raw desperation of this evening’s clash on Tyneside. While Newcastle see out a campaign that has hit a late-spring autopilot, West Ham arrive at St. James’ Park (17:30 BST) knowing their top-flight status hangs entirely in the balance.
With only two rounds of fixtures remaining, the Hammers find themselves trapped in the relegation zone, sitting 18th and two points adrift of London rivals Tottenham Hotspur. Following back-to-back defeats against Brentford and Arsenal, the maths is simple for Nuno Espírito Santo’s side: they need a positive result today to take advantage of Spurs being out of action this weekend and hope to carry the relegation dogfight to the final day.
Tottenham travel to Chelsea on Tuesday evening, who will not be managed by recent appointee Xabi Alonso as his role will not begin until the start of July.
For Eddie Howe’s Newcastle, sitting comfortably in 13th, the motivation is about restoring pride in their final home game of the season. The Magpies have endured a barren spring run, securing just one win from their last seven outings. Compounding matters is a brewing off-field distraction around England winger Anthony Gordon. Despite being fully fit after a hip injury, Gordon has been left on the bench for consecutive games, with Howe hinting at a summer transition amidst heavy transfer links to Bayern Munich.
