West Ham fans leave St James’ Park early as a 3-1 defeat to Newcastle sees the Hammers on the brink of relegation.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side remain in the Premier League drop zone, Woltemade and two goals from Osula put the Magpies in command before an unbelievable consolation strike from Castellanos.
The result means West Ham will be relegated on Tuesday night if Tottenham beat Chelsea. A draw for Spurs would effectively relegate the Hammers due to their goal difference.
West Ham will be hoping Spurs lose to both Chelsea and Everton, and the Hammers need to beat Leeds on the final day.
Early frustration for West Ham supporters, with some already heading for the exits! 😬 pic.twitter.com/u3w1oE9HwP
— PurelyFootball ℗ (@PurelyFootball) May 17, 2026
West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo, said to Sky Sports, as per BBC Sport’s live blog: “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.”
On whether he got his team selection wrong: “Maybe we prepare badly? Maybe we made mistakes, we have to look. If you look at the game then probably, yes.”
On if he feels let down by his players: “No, no. Let’s look at the game. We started poor, we were soft. The waywe 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 untl the end.
“Of course I understand [fans’ 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.”
On the week ahead: “Let’s wait on Tuesday but we have been in these situations in recent weeks where you have chances to go and don’t take it, then we expect what is happening in other games. It is possible but it is difficult.”
🗣️ “Let’s try to finish the season with dignity, with respect for the club”
Nuno Espírito Santo reacts after West Ham’s defeat to Newcastle. pic.twitter.com/uRo4gxGvfg
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 17, 2026
West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes told Sky Sports: “The first 20 minutes was so painful for us. We have been training all week to do one thing and we arrive here and didn’t do it.
“This week we just need to believe and do our things. It is our [the players’] responsibility and we need to do much better.
“It needs to be us [the players’ responsibility] 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.
“Of course [I understand fan frustration at full-time]. We didn’t play with full fight and spirit like against Arsenal. We missed everything – fight, energy, second balls we were every time late.
“It is very hard to think about the future. One game to try to win. It is difficult. Everything can happen. Hopefully they [Spurs] lose against Chelsea and in the last match we go with everything. We have to believe.”
West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen said to BBC Sport: “The way we started was really poor. We were late to pressing them and they have the quality to play through us.
“It’s obviously [down to] us on the pitch. We knew what we wanted to do and the pressue we wanted to put on them. We just didn’t do it well enough. We have to hold our hands up and admit we didn’t get there in time.
“I don’t think so [the players were affected by pressure of relegation]. I think if that was the case we would have probably sat off. We knew we had to be on the front foot and disrupt the atmosphere they created but we didn’t do that and conceded really poor goals.
“It’s those little things that we need to be better at. Silly mistakes are going to get punished in this league.”
On the relegation picture: “Things obviously don’t look great, we have to accept that. We need Tottenham to lose on Tuesday night and until then we have to hold on to what we have.
“We are holding on by a small thread but we are still holding on. We have to see how the result goes on Tuesday, there’s a chance that we are relegated then and we can’t hide from it. The only thing we can do is wait and see what happens.
“I will watch it. We never want to be relying on teams but we have put ourselves in this position. We have created this mess and I think we have to be big enough to watch it and accept what happens. We are still holding on and hopefully if they lose it gives us a chance on the final day.”
Here’s the social media reaction while West Ham fans leave early as a 3-1 defeat to Newcastle sees the Hammers on the brink of relegation…
@WestHamJoshV: Moved out of Upton Park ten years ago last week for a “world class team and stadium” and now being relegated. Sold a dream, delivered a nightmare. Criminal what the Board have done to West Ham.
@WestHamJoshV: The clear out that will happen at West Ham after relegation needs to begin with David Sullivan. Relegation is the result of years on inept running at board level. Gutting to see what they have done to our football club. Run into the ground over years. The board deserve relegation
@George_Poynter: Where was the fight when we needed it most? Only Taty showed some fight and effort today. Pathetic. Down on Tuesday.
@AndrewKane221: I think I would prefer Tottenham to get a draw/win on Tuesday and just put me out of my misery.
@RockCowboyPhil: You don’t always get what you deserve in football, not us.. we get exactly what we’ve deserved for the past couple of seasons.. Awful owners, below average team & the worst stadium in the league.. they only thing this club doesn’t deserve us the supporters ⚒️
@J_Obern9: Quite frankly embarrassing. Set up wrong from the start, but absolutely pathetic from 90% of the players too. Thought Taty was excellent and proved why starting Wilson was the mistake it was. Have to be honest I won’t miss many of these players when they walk away in the summer.
@Hunty_S92: Deserve to be relegated after that. Piss poor. Extremely bad leadership on and off the pitch. Need a complete reset. All of them, barring Taty today, should be embarrassed by their performance.
@IrishIron32: Another terrible weekend as a West Ham fan. Thankfully only one left. Terrible performance from the players, but blame has to fall on Nuno for that terrible set up. Everton losing and Leeds winning doesnt bode well either. Almost just be grateful for Spurs to end it vs Chelsea.
@whufc_coyi89: Shit manager, shit players and a shit owner.
@BradWhiting94: Embarrassing yet again. Majority of the players don’t care and need to go. Nuno needs to go. I’ll be amazed if we’re anywhere near promotion next season with the way this club is run. Sullivan has run this club into the ground. Get him gone.
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