When you are fighting for survival, the wounds are not supposed to be self-inflicted. But here against a Newcastle team with little to play for beyond pride, West Ham found an enemy within. For them, there was little pride in a performance that will likely mean the club is playing in the Championship next season.
The fatal blow came from their own hand, quite literally. El Hadji Malick Diouf threw the ball loosely in the direction of substitute Pablo, who looked like he’d rather still be on the bench. Midfielder Joe Willock stole, although it was hardly the heist of the century, and he and Will Osula charged upfield with very few in pursuit before the striker finished for 3-0.
Add that error to two for the first goal and too many to count for the second and you see why West Ham were the architects of their own suffering. It feels like the cuts run too deep now for them to recover.
Tottenham, because of a superior goal difference, need just one point from two matches to stay up at West Ham’s expense. That could come as soon as Tuesday night at Chelsea. On this evidence, relegation would be deserved.
Nuno Espirito Santo got his selection wrong and those he picked did little right, save for an improvement after going 3-0 down. Too little, too late does not come close.
Before a ball was kicked there was an afternoon’s worth for West Ham fans to boot up and down the country. Such mathematical gymnastics can be tiring but it felt like a round of results to energise the Hammers. Leeds won, which means they should be motivated by a top-10 finish when travelling to Tottenham on the final day. Everton, who West Ham host next Sunday, lost, just about ending their European dream, and with it their season.
West Ham were architects of their own downfall again against Newcastle, which means they are all but confirmed to be playing Championship football next season
Will Osula scored twice for a Magpies side that had little to play for but pride on Sunday
There was also some debate among West Ham supporters as to whether a win was absolutely necessary here, or if a draw would be enough to unnerve Tottenham. Option C, the one for Catastrophe, was the lesser muttered eventuality. It sure was being talked about after 20 minutes of calamity, not that any of it was very funny.
Harvey Barnes will be credited with the assist for Nick Woltemade’s opening goal in the 15th minute, but West Ham goalkeeper Mads Hermansen and defender Jean-Clair Todibo were just as key to opening up the defence, albeit their own.
Hermansen, fizzing a low pass from his goalmouth, thought that he could play, Todibo forgot that he had to. The pass was poor, too much pace and too little direction, but Todibo had a choice – commit to chasing after it or abandon the pursuit and cover. He did neither, as if suffering an on-field glitch. Barnes pounced, ran by Todibo at ease and chipped onto the boot of Woltemade, who volleyed home gratefully from six yards.
After an episode of such self-sabotage, it would be wise to consolidate for five or so minutes. But so dazed were West Ham from punching themselves in the face, Newcastle were soon playing around them for a second. It was a good goal – a series of snappy one-touch passes – but players like Kieran Trippier and Bruno Guimaraes should be able to execute those when up against mannequins. It allowed Jacob Ramsey to send Osula clear and he finished below Hermansen, who did nothing to atone for his recent error.
Osula celebrated by bringing out a Michael Jackson glove and dancing in front of the Leazes End. Who knows what the meaning was behind it, but West Ham were most certainly Bad. Todibo was hooked soon after and his replacement, Taty Castellanos, did score, but not until the 69th minute at 3-0. It was a great goal, a first-time volley from 25 yards, but it will be a footnote when it comes to reflecting on this season, even if it is the best of their campaign.
Castellanos then hit the bar with another decent blast late on, but following an afternoon of hitting themselves, it mattered not. The damage was already done and West Ham are all but down.
