Nuno Espirito Santo and his West Ham United squad arrived on Tyneside knowing a win was essential to give them a realistic chance of survival.
Inside twenty minutes Newcastle United were 2-0 up.
By the 26 minute mark the Hammers boss was making his first substitution.
Reacting after the match Nuno Espirito Santo telling BBC Sport what he thought: “Bad, bad. Overall bad performance. Too many things went wrong. I think we gifted them the goals. Really disappointing.”
West Ham only one match still to play at home to Leeds next Sunday and two points adrift of safety. Whilst Spurs have a far superior goal difference and two games left, starting with Chelsea away on Tuesday and then home to Everton next Sunday.
Nuno Espirito Santo admitting: “Look, it’s going to be a tough week for us. We realise the situation is extremely difficult for us. Let’s see what happens on Tuesday. More than anything is respect, work, compete in our last game at London Stadium. “Respect, dignity, we owe a performance in the final game to the club and to our fans. Let’s see what happens when Tottenham face Chelsea.”
The West Ham boss asked why they fell short at St James’ Park: “This is what I’m going to try and work out this week so we don’t repeat it at London Stadium. The team reacted to the change of formation[after 26 minutes] but maybe we prepared bad, it wasn’t the best decision.”
Newcastle United 3 West Ham United 1 – Sunday 17 May 2026 5.30pm
Match Stats
Goals:
Woltemade 15 Osula 18, 65
West Ham:
Castellanos 69
Possession was Newcastle 55% West Ham 45%
Total shots were Newcastle 15 West Ham 15
Shots on target were Newcastle 7 West Ham 8
Corners were Newcastle 9 West Ham 1
Touches in the opposition box Newcastle 43 West Ham 34
Newcastle team v West Ham:
Pope, Trippier (Elanga 85), Thiaw, Botman, Hall, Bruno, Tonali (Willock 53), Ramsey, Barnes (Jacob Murphy 75), Woltemade (Burn 75), Osula (Wissa 85)
Unused subs:
Ramsdale, Gordon, Alex Murphy, Neave