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| Newcastle United v West Ham United: Premier League – as it happened | |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| 5.02pm BST17:02 | |
| Right, that’s it from me. Stick around on site for all the reports and reaction from around the grounds on the final day of the Premier League season. | |
| 4.59pm BST16:59 | |
| West Ham have sacked Sam Allardyce | |
| West Ham have just released a statement confirming Allardyce’s departure from the club: | |
| West Ham United will begin the search for a new manager after the Club decided not to renew the contract of Sam Allardyce following the conclusion of the 2014/15 season. | |
| Joint-Chairmen David Sullivan and David Gold will now oversee the recruitment process for a new manager to lead the Club into one of the most exciting eras in its history. The Hammers will bid an emotional farewell to the Boleyn Ground, their home of more than 110 years, next season before the Club moves to London’s premier state-of-the-art 54,000 seater stadium on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in August 2016. | |
| The Board has already compiled a shortlist of replacements for Allardyce and will be making significant transfer funds available for the successful candidate. | |
| That didn’t take long. | |
| Updated at 4.59pm BST | |
| 4.56pm BST16:56 | |
| This is how the final league table looks: | |
| Updated at 4.57pm BST | |
| 4.55pm BST16:55 | |
| A chant of “WE WANT ASHLEY OUT!” rumbles around the ground. | |
| 4.54pm BST16:54 | |
| Hugs all round on the pitch. Here’s Jonas: “Newcastle is bigger than this. We have to look forward. | |
| “A few months ago I didn’t know if I was going to able to play football again. I’m so proud to be here” | |
| 4.51pm BST16:51 | |
| Peep! PEEEEP!! PEEEEEEEEEP!!! That’s it! Newcastle stay up. And a real high note for the season to end on courtesy of Jonas Gutierrez. | |
| 4.49pm BST16:49 | |
| 90+2 min: The Toon Army engage Party Mode. | |
| 4.48pm BST16:48 | |
| 90 min: Seven added minutes at Hull and just three added minutes at St James’. It’s not going to matter – Newcastle are staying up. | |
| 4.47pm BST16:47 | |
| 88 min: Anita, who might have been the villain had things gone differently, comes off to be replaced by Gouffran. | |
| 4.45pm BST16:45 | |
| 87 min: Both Newcastle’s goals have come about a minute after they missed gilt-edged chances. | |
| 4.44pm BST16:44 | |
| GOAL! Newcastle 2-0 West Ham (Gutierrez 85) | |
| That’s it! Newcastle are surely safe now. And what a man to score it. As Sky’s commentator points out Gutierrez knows more about survival than most. He crunches a low shot past Adrian from 25 yards to send St James’ Park into raptures. | |
| Updated at 4.56pm BST | |
| 4.43pm BST16:43 | |
| 84 min: Reid nods on to the roof of the net. West Ham are sending plenty of men forward but they’re so open at the back now. | |
| 4.42pm BST16:42 | |
| 83 min: Oh my word! West Ham make a right mess of a free-kick and Anita races through into the Hammers half unchallenged. It’s three on one … and the one is goalkeeper Adrian. Anita, probably rightly, looks to play the ball across to one of his team-mates burt the keeper cuts out the pass. Unbelievable. | |
| 4.39pm BST16:39 | |
| 81 min: Manchester United are down to 10 men at the KC Stadium after a red card for Fellaini. And it has caused a bit of a delay. The full-time whistle is likely to blow at St James’ before the one at Hull. | |
| 4.38pm BST16:38 | |
| 80 min: Amalfitano goes into the book for a late lunge on Anita. | |
| 4.37pm BST16:37 | |
| 80 min: West Ham’s best chance of the half drops to Kevin Nolan, who swipes wide from the edge of the box. A bit of an escape for Newcastle, that. | |
| 4.37pm BST16:37 | |
| 79 min: Riviere and Cisse conspire to waste a decent three-on-three break. | |
| Updated at 4.37pm BST | |
| 4.36pm BST16:36 | |
| 78 min: Elliott Lee, son of Rob Lee, replaces Kouyate. | |
| 4.35pm BST16:35 | |
| 77 min: … worked short to Janmaat, whose whipped cross finds Coloccini. The captain’s volley flies over. | |
| 4.34pm BST16:34 | |
| 76 min: Anita nips in ahead of Nolan and sees his cross deflected out for a corner … | |
| 4.33pm BST16:33 | |
| 74 min: Hull have gone close once more but even if the Tigers score it won’t be enough as it stands. | |
| 4.30pm BST16:30 | 4.30pm BST16:30 |
| 72 min: It’s been pretty much one-way traffic since the break. West Ham don’t look remotely like scoring an equaliser. | 72 min: It’s been pretty much one-way traffic since the break. West Ham don’t look remotely like scoring an equaliser. |
| 4.29pm BST16:29 | 4.29pm BST16:29 |
| 71 min: Cole rises highest to meet Jenkinson’s cross but he’s on the penalty spot and always stretching. The header loops harmlessly over. | 71 min: Cole rises highest to meet Jenkinson’s cross but he’s on the penalty spot and always stretching. The header loops harmlessly over. |
| 4.26pm BST16:26 | 4.26pm BST16:26 |
| 68 min: Another West Ham change: James Tomkins replaces Reece Burke. | 68 min: Another West Ham change: James Tomkins replaces Reece Burke. |
| 4.24pm BST16:24 | 4.24pm BST16:24 |
| 67 min: More roars as Anita goes thundering into a challenge. | 67 min: More roars as Anita goes thundering into a challenge. |
| 4.23pm BST16:23 | 4.23pm BST16:23 |
| 65 min: A chant of “sacked in the morning” echoes quietly echoes from some corner of the stadium. It’s not entirely clear as to which manager it’s being directed at. | 65 min: A chant of “sacked in the morning” echoes quietly echoes from some corner of the stadium. It’s not entirely clear as to which manager it’s being directed at. |
| 4.22pm BST16:22 | 4.22pm BST16:22 |
| 64 min: A couple of balls slung into the West Ham area meet the heads of defenders. | 64 min: A couple of balls slung into the West Ham area meet the heads of defenders. |
| 4.20pm BST16:20 | 4.20pm BST16:20 |
| 62 min: Amalfitano replaces Valencia for West Ham. | 62 min: Amalfitano replaces Valencia for West Ham. |
| Updated at 4.20pm BST | Updated at 4.20pm BST |
| 4.20pm BST16:20 | 4.20pm BST16:20 |
| 61 min: Roars from the terraces as Newcastle hassle and harry West Ham all over the pitch, eventually forcing them all the way back to Adrian. | 61 min: Roars from the terraces as Newcastle hassle and harry West Ham all over the pitch, eventually forcing them all the way back to Adrian. |
| 4.18pm BST16:18 | 4.18pm BST16:18 |
| 59 min: West Ham have responded pretty well to the goal without creating a great deal. Set pieces look their best chance of upsetting Newcastle’s survival bid at the moment. | 59 min: West Ham have responded pretty well to the goal without creating a great deal. Set pieces look their best chance of upsetting Newcastle’s survival bid at the moment. |
| 4.16pm BST16:16 | 4.16pm BST16:16 |
| 57 min: West Ham briefly threaten in the Newcastle box as a deep free-kick drops loose. Nolan thinks he should have a corner but the officials award a goal-kick. | 57 min: West Ham briefly threaten in the Newcastle box as a deep free-kick drops loose. Nolan thinks he should have a corner but the officials award a goal-kick. |
| Updated at 4.16pm BST | Updated at 4.16pm BST |
| 4.14pm BST16:14 | 4.14pm BST16:14 |
| 56 min: West Ham haven’t got going this half. | 56 min: West Ham haven’t got going this half. |
| 4.13pm BST16:13 | 4.13pm BST16:13 |
| 55 min: Sissoko goes into the book for removing his shirt during his celebration, but he probably won’t mind too much. | 55 min: Sissoko goes into the book for removing his shirt during his celebration, but he probably won’t mind too much. |
| 4.12pm BST16:12 | 4.12pm BST16:12 |
| GOAL! Newcastle 1-0 West Ham (Sissoko 54) | GOAL! Newcastle 1-0 West Ham (Sissoko 54) |
| Newcastle take the lead! Sissoko buries his header past Adrian from six yards after Gutierrez whips in the perfect cross. Superb cross, great leap from the goalscorer. | Newcastle take the lead! Sissoko buries his header past Adrian from six yards after Gutierrez whips in the perfect cross. Superb cross, great leap from the goalscorer. |
| Updated at 4.26pm BST | Updated at 4.26pm BST |
| 4.10pm BST16:10 | 4.10pm BST16:10 |
| 52 min: That miss gets worse and worse on the replays. It was beautifully created by Janmaat and his cross was absolutely perfect. It was just a dismal effort from the Frenchman. | 52 min: That miss gets worse and worse on the replays. It was beautifully created by Janmaat and his cross was absolutely perfect. It was just a dismal effort from the Frenchman. |
| 4.09pm BST16:09 | 4.09pm BST16:09 |
| 51 min: What a chance! Brilliant work from Janmaat on the right, who does Cresswell and rolls the ball into Riviere’s path. He airkicks from six yards out. Comfortably Newcastle’s best chance of the game. | 51 min: What a chance! Brilliant work from Janmaat on the right, who does Cresswell and rolls the ball into Riviere’s path. He airkicks from six yards out. Comfortably Newcastle’s best chance of the game. |
| Updated at 4.20pm BST | Updated at 4.20pm BST |
| 4.07pm BST16:07 | 4.07pm BST16:07 |
| 49 min: Hull and Manchester United exchange missed chances at the KC. Nothing clear cut has been created at St James’ since the break. | 49 min: Hull and Manchester United exchange missed chances at the KC. Nothing clear cut has been created at St James’ since the break. |
| Updated at 4.08pm BST | Updated at 4.08pm BST |
| 4.06pm BST16:06 | 4.06pm BST16:06 |
| 48 min: … Williamson gets on the end of it but can’t direct his near-post header anywhere useful. | 48 min: … Williamson gets on the end of it but can’t direct his near-post header anywhere useful. |
| 4.05pm BST16:05 | 4.05pm BST16:05 |
| 47 min: Scrappy start to the half, with both West Ham full-backs sloppily putting out for Newcastle throws. Meanwhile, Cissé has won a corner for his side … | 47 min: Scrappy start to the half, with both West Ham full-backs sloppily putting out for Newcastle throws. Meanwhile, Cissé has won a corner for his side … |
| 4.04pm BST16:04 | 4.04pm BST16:04 |
| 46 min: Song muscles Cissé off the ball with ease. The Newcastle striker has struggled to get into the game thus far. | 46 min: Song muscles Cissé off the ball with ease. The Newcastle striker has struggled to get into the game thus far. |
| 4.03pm BST16:03 | 4.03pm BST16:03 |
| PEEP! We have a long wait at St James’s Park as Hull and Manchester United aren’t quite ready for the restart. Eventually, though, both matches kick off at the same time. | PEEP! We have a long wait at St James’s Park as Hull and Manchester United aren’t quite ready for the restart. Eventually, though, both matches kick off at the same time. |
| 4.01pm BST16:01 | 4.01pm BST16:01 |
| The players are back out and ready to go again. Forty-five minutes of the Premier League season remain. | The players are back out and ready to go again. Forty-five minutes of the Premier League season remain. |
| 3.56pm BST15:56 | 3.56pm BST15:56 |
| Some half-time reading: here’s Louise Taylor on Mike Ashley’s interview earlier today. | Some half-time reading: here’s Louise Taylor on Mike Ashley’s interview earlier today. |
| 3.47pm BST15:47 | 3.47pm BST15:47 |
| Peep! PEEEP!! Half-time. And as it stands Newcastle are safe. | Peep! PEEEP!! Half-time. And as it stands Newcastle are safe. |
| 3.47pm BST15:47 | 3.47pm BST15:47 |
| 45+1 min: Janmaat, Newcastle’s best player this half and surely a shoo-in to stay in the Premier League even if Newcastle do not, cuts inside from the right once more but his left-footed shot is wide. | 45+1 min: Janmaat, Newcastle’s best player this half and surely a shoo-in to stay in the Premier League even if Newcastle do not, cuts inside from the right once more but his left-footed shot is wide. |
| 3.46pm BST15:46 | 3.46pm BST15:46 |
| 45 min: There’ll be a minimum of one minute of injury time. | 45 min: There’ll be a minimum of one minute of injury time. |
| 3.43pm BST15:43 | 3.43pm BST15:43 |
| 43 min: Burke muscles Cisse off the ball and sends an optimistic shot in the vague direction of goal from about 40 yards. It hits a defender and bobbles apologetically through to Krul. | 43 min: Burke muscles Cisse off the ball and sends an optimistic shot in the vague direction of goal from about 40 yards. It hits a defender and bobbles apologetically through to Krul. |
| 3.43pm BST15:43 | 3.43pm BST15:43 |
| 42 min: A lull. | 42 min: A lull. |
| 3.40pm BST15:40 | 3.40pm BST15:40 |
| 40 min: Nicely worked by Newcastle down the left. Colback looks to have overcooked his cross but Janmaat is flying in on the right. He plants his header yards over the bar. | 40 min: Nicely worked by Newcastle down the left. Colback looks to have overcooked his cross but Janmaat is flying in on the right. He plants his header yards over the bar. |
| 3.38pm BST15:38 | 3.38pm BST15:38 |
| 38 min: West Ham have lost a bit of zip. Could be a decent moment for Newcastle to go up a gear … | 38 min: West Ham have lost a bit of zip. Could be a decent moment for Newcastle to go up a gear … |
| 3.36pm BST15:36 | 3.36pm BST15:36 |
| 36 min: … dinked in pretty pathetically by Colback but West Ham can’t clear and in the end the ball breaks to Gutierrez, who curls over from distance. | 36 min: … dinked in pretty pathetically by Colback but West Ham can’t clear and in the end the ball breaks to Gutierrez, who curls over from distance. |
| 3.35pm BST15:35 | 3.35pm BST15:35 |
| 35 min: Cisse is chopped down from behind 30-odd yards from goal. Free-kick. A decent chance this … | 35 min: Cisse is chopped down from behind 30-odd yards from goal. Free-kick. A decent chance this … |
| 3.33pm BST15:33 | 3.33pm BST15:33 |
| 33 min: Chance for Riviere as Janmaat’s cross breaks to him in the area. The French forward attempts a Karate Kid-style crane kick but can only miscue softly straight at Adrian. Nice try, Emmanuel-san. | 33 min: Chance for Riviere as Janmaat’s cross breaks to him in the area. The French forward attempts a Karate Kid-style crane kick but can only miscue softly straight at Adrian. Nice try, Emmanuel-san. |
| 3.32pm BST15:32 | 3.32pm BST15:32 |
| 32 min: Kouyate scuffs in a cross as West Ham threaten once more. | 32 min: Kouyate scuffs in a cross as West Ham threaten once more. |
| 3.30pm BST15:30 | 3.30pm BST15:30 |
| 30 min: Reid makes a vital block as West Ham take their turn to fail to clean their lines. Cissé was loitering with intent but the defender managed to get his body in the way of Sissoko’s pass. | 30 min: Reid makes a vital block as West Ham take their turn to fail to clean their lines. Cissé was loitering with intent but the defender managed to get his body in the way of Sissoko’s pass. |
| 3.29pm BST15:29 | 3.29pm BST15:29 |
| 29 min: … a Newcastle head meets the ball but it’s loose inside the area. Nolan almost grabs the chance but eventually Newcastle scramble clear. | 29 min: … a Newcastle head meets the ball but it’s loose inside the area. Nolan almost grabs the chance but eventually Newcastle scramble clear. |
| 3.28pm BST15:28 | 3.28pm BST15:28 |
| 28 min: Another dangerous West Ham free-kick … | 28 min: Another dangerous West Ham free-kick … |
| 3.28pm BST15:28 | 3.28pm BST15:28 |
| 27 min: West Ham are beginning to boss the midfield but it’s all a little directionless at the moment. | 27 min: West Ham are beginning to boss the midfield but it’s all a little directionless at the moment. |
| 3.25pm BST15:25 | 3.25pm BST15:25 |
| 25 min: Replays show Downing was narrowly offside there. Nevertheless, the visitors are on top at the moment. | 25 min: Replays show Downing was narrowly offside there. Nevertheless, the visitors are on top at the moment. |
| 3.24pm BST15:24 | 3.24pm BST15:24 |
| 24 min: What a chance for West Ham! The Newcastle defence were picked apart, with Downing gliding clean through as defenders looked for offside. His angle is a little narrow, though, and Krul is able to slide out to block with his knee. | 24 min: What a chance for West Ham! The Newcastle defence were picked apart, with Downing gliding clean through as defenders looked for offside. His angle is a little narrow, though, and Krul is able to slide out to block with his knee. |
| 3.23pm BST15:23 | 3.23pm BST15:23 |
| 23 min: … Cresswell rather optimistically looks to slide the ball in low down the side of the area, but Newcastle are alive to the danger and clear. | 23 min: … Cresswell rather optimistically looks to slide the ball in low down the side of the area, but Newcastle are alive to the danger and clear. |
| 3.22pm BST15:22 | 3.22pm BST15:22 |
| 22 min: Valencia wins a cheap free-kick off Colback 50-odd yards from goal. West Ham send the heavy artillery up from the back … | 22 min: Valencia wins a cheap free-kick off Colback 50-odd yards from goal. West Ham send the heavy artillery up from the back … |
| 3.21pm BST15:21 | 3.21pm BST15:21 |
| 21 min: Valencia needs treatment after taking a whack on the head in an aerial challenge. | 21 min: Valencia needs treatment after taking a whack on the head in an aerial challenge. |
| 3.21pm BST15:21 | 3.21pm BST15:21 |
| 19 min: Hull have just had two goals disallowed in the space of two minutes. You can follow all the action from the KC Stadium with Brooklyn’s Tom Lutz right here. | 19 min: Hull have just had two goals disallowed in the space of two minutes. You can follow all the action from the KC Stadium with Brooklyn’s Tom Lutz right here. |
| 3.19pm BST15:19 | 3.19pm BST15:19 |
| 18 min: Gutierrez sees his shot from the edge of the box blocked by Reid. Janmaat, who has spent more time in the West Ham area than his own, smashes the loose ball wide. | 18 min: Gutierrez sees his shot from the edge of the box blocked by Reid. Janmaat, who has spent more time in the West Ham area than his own, smashes the loose ball wide. |
| 3.18pm BST15:18 | 3.18pm BST15:18 |
| St. James' Park unites in applause in memory of John Alder and Liam Sweeney. #NUFC | St. James' Park unites in applause in memory of John Alder and Liam Sweeney. #NUFC |
| 3.17pm BST15:17 | 3.17pm BST15:17 |
| 17 min: Downing looks to thread a pass through to the onrushing Kouyate but the ball is a little too heavy. | 17 min: Downing looks to thread a pass through to the onrushing Kouyate but the ball is a little too heavy. |
| 3.16pm BST15:16 | 3.16pm BST15:16 |
| 15 min: Song makes a bit of a rick inside the centre circle and Newcastle are able to break onto the West Ham back four. Janmaat heads over to take a throw-in and tries to whip up the crowd. | 15 min: Song makes a bit of a rick inside the centre circle and Newcastle are able to break onto the West Ham back four. Janmaat heads over to take a throw-in and tries to whip up the crowd. |
| 3.14pm BST15:14 | 3.14pm BST15:14 |
| 13 min: Cole chases a long ball down the right channel and Williamson tidies up, playing the ball back to Krul. Krul, though, plays the riskiest of short passes out and the ball evades Valencia’s toes by a whisker. A few hearts skipped a beat there. | 13 min: Cole chases a long ball down the right channel and Williamson tidies up, playing the ball back to Krul. Krul, though, plays the riskiest of short passes out and the ball evades Valencia’s toes by a whisker. A few hearts skipped a beat there. |
| 3.12pm BST15:12 | 3.12pm BST15:12 |
| 12 min: Janmaat surges forward on the right and cuts inside but his shot is a weak one, bobbling straight through to Adrian. | 12 min: Janmaat surges forward on the right and cuts inside but his shot is a weak one, bobbling straight through to Adrian. |
| 3.11pm BST15:11 | 3.11pm BST15:11 |
| 11 min: Dummett forces his way down the Newcastle left but his cross pinballs between himself and a defender and goes out for a goal kick. | 11 min: Dummett forces his way down the Newcastle left but his cross pinballs between himself and a defender and goes out for a goal kick. |
| 3.10pm BST15:10 | 3.10pm BST15:10 |
| 10 min: It’s still 0-0 in the other game that matters at the bottom. | 10 min: It’s still 0-0 in the other game that matters at the bottom. |
| Hull started sharp and at it.. | Hull started sharp and at it.. |
| 3.09pm BST15:09 | 3.09pm BST15:09 |
| 9 min: Sissoko plops a cross straight into the hands of Adrian. | 9 min: Sissoko plops a cross straight into the hands of Adrian. |
| 3.08pm BST15:08 | 3.08pm BST15:08 |
| 8 min: The atmosphere inside SJP really is rocking and both sets of players have responded to it thus far. | 8 min: The atmosphere inside SJP really is rocking and both sets of players have responded to it thus far. |
| A bold new strategy from Newcastle today. They appear to have decided to give a shit. And it’s working. | A bold new strategy from Newcastle today. They appear to have decided to give a shit. And it’s working. |
| 3.06pm BST15:06 | 3.06pm BST15:06 |
| 6 min: This has been a 100mph start. Riviere attempts a spectacular overhead kick at the back post and connects reasonably well. The effort scuds into the side-netting. | 6 min: This has been a 100mph start. Riviere attempts a spectacular overhead kick at the back post and connects reasonably well. The effort scuds into the side-netting. |
| 3.05pm BST15:05 | 3.05pm BST15:05 |
| 5 min: Downing swirls in a corner and Krul tumbles under pressure in the box. Atkinson sees enough contact on this occasion to award the foul. | 5 min: Downing swirls in a corner and Krul tumbles under pressure in the box. Atkinson sees enough contact on this occasion to award the foul. |
| 3.04pm BST15:04 | 3.04pm BST15:04 |
| 4 min: I think that fell into the section marked You’ve Seen Them Given. | 4 min: I think that fell into the section marked You’ve Seen Them Given. |
| Updated at 3.04pm BST | Updated at 3.04pm BST |
| 3.04pm BST15:04 | 3.04pm BST15:04 |
| 3 min: Is this a penalty? Well, no, but should it have been? Valencia turns past Williamson in the box, the Newcastle defender dangling a leg awkwardly towards the forward. He goes down but referee Atkinson, who was well placed, isn’t interested. | 3 min: Is this a penalty? Well, no, but should it have been? Valencia turns past Williamson in the box, the Newcastle defender dangling a leg awkwardly towards the forward. He goes down but referee Atkinson, who was well placed, isn’t interested. |
| 3.02pm BST15:02 | 3.02pm BST15:02 |
| 1 min: CLOSE TO THE PERFECT START FOR NEWCASTLE! They break down the right, get a couple of favourable bobbles as the ball is sent low into the area by Sissoko from over on the right. Both Cisse and Riviere are closing in and the ball breaks to the latter, who lashes across goal. | 1 min: CLOSE TO THE PERFECT START FOR NEWCASTLE! They break down the right, get a couple of favourable bobbles as the ball is sent low into the area by Sissoko from over on the right. Both Cisse and Riviere are closing in and the ball breaks to the latter, who lashes across goal. |
| 3.00pm BST15:00 | 3.00pm BST15:00 |
| Peep! Off we go then. Newcastle have 90 minutes to save themselves. | Peep! Off we go then. Newcastle have 90 minutes to save themselves. |
| 3.00pm BST15:00 | 3.00pm BST15:00 |
| St James’ Park is noisy as the players line up pre-kick-off. A cauldron, if you will. Though quite why large pots are considered noisy I’m not entirely sure. | St James’ Park is noisy as the players line up pre-kick-off. A cauldron, if you will. Though quite why large pots are considered noisy I’m not entirely sure. |
| 2.56pm BST14:56 | 2.56pm BST14:56 |
| The players are in the tunnel. Even the Newcastle mascots look nervous. | The players are in the tunnel. Even the Newcastle mascots look nervous. |
| 2.51pm BST14:51 | 2.51pm BST14:51 |
| “From this day forward we will be making our own luck”? I’m not sure luck works like that, Mike old bean. | “From this day forward we will be making our own luck”? I’m not sure luck works like that, Mike old bean. |
| Mike Ashley not selling Newcastle - 2016-19 TV deals likely to be £8.5bn; now not the time to sell a cash cow. #nufc https://t.co/YM07ORyOmu | Mike Ashley not selling Newcastle - 2016-19 TV deals likely to be £8.5bn; now not the time to sell a cash cow. #nufc https://t.co/YM07ORyOmu |
| 2.50pm BST14:50 | 2.50pm BST14:50 |
| Ashley’s interview on Sky Sports has just aired. A quick summary (courtesy of Newcastle’s official website): | Ashley’s interview on Sky Sports has just aired. A quick summary (courtesy of Newcastle’s official website): |
| Where does the blame lie? My door. I didn’t envisage us being in this position at Christmas. Obviously, after the last couple of weeks I’m still a little bit shocked at where we find ourselves today. | Where does the blame lie? My door. I didn’t envisage us being in this position at Christmas. Obviously, after the last couple of weeks I’m still a little bit shocked at where we find ourselves today. |
| I will continue the policy of investing in the football club. | I will continue the policy of investing in the football club. |
| We have got the club on a very sound financial footing, so we are able to spend and punch above our weight thanks to the current financial situation the club finds itself in. | We have got the club on a very sound financial footing, so we are able to spend and punch above our weight thanks to the current financial situation the club finds itself in. |
| What’s your plan now? To definitely win something and, by the way, I won’t be selling until I do. | What’s your plan now? To definitely win something and, by the way, I won’t be selling until I do. |
| [The club is not for sale] at any price. And when I say ‘win something’, if we ever get into a position of being in a Champions League place, that also counts as winning something. | [The club is not for sale] at any price. And when I say ‘win something’, if we ever get into a position of being in a Champions League place, that also counts as winning something. |
| From this day forward we will be making our own luck. | From this day forward we will be making our own luck. |
| 2.44pm BST14:44 | 2.44pm BST14:44 |
| WHAT’S YOU PLAN MIKE?! “We have the financial cart, we now have to bolt the horse on.” Erm, OK. | WHAT’S YOU PLAN MIKE?! “We have the financial cart, we now have to bolt the horse on.” Erm, OK. |
| 2.35pm BST14:35 | 2.35pm BST14:35 |
| Mike Ashley has apparently just told broadcast journalists that he has no plans to leave the club until they’ve won something. League One title in 2016-17? | Mike Ashley has apparently just told broadcast journalists that he has no plans to leave the club until they’ve won something. League One title in 2016-17? |
| Hard to see Mike Ashley sell Newcastle. Stay up: TV cheque £60m+. Go down, £65m parachute. Easier money than flogging cheap sportswear #nufc | Hard to see Mike Ashley sell Newcastle. Stay up: TV cheque £60m+. Go down, £65m parachute. Easier money than flogging cheap sportswear #nufc |
| 2.26pm BST14:26 | 2.26pm BST14:26 |
| The fans' view | The fans' view |
| The Observer hunted down fans of every Premier League team to get their reviews of the season. Here’s what the fans of these clubs thought: | The Observer hunted down fans of every Premier League team to get their reviews of the season. Here’s what the fans of these clubs thought: |
| Newcastle – Richard & David Holmes | Newcastle – Richard & David Holmes |
| 2/10 Applying the business model of a downmarket sports retailer (degrade the brand, maximise profits) to a football club has, unsurprisingly, had disastrous consequences. By limiting ambition to staying in the Premier Leagueand treating cups with contempt, Mike Ashley has created a soulless entity and shattered the hopes of generations of fans. Alan Pardew performed as well as he could as an apologist for Ashley, while John Carver has proved completely out of his depth. He might “bleed black and white” but he’s proved to be inept at both man management and tactics … and couldn’t even inspire his players to put up a fight in a derby. The owner, management, coaching staff and most of the players deserve to go down – the fans don’t. | 2/10 Applying the business model of a downmarket sports retailer (degrade the brand, maximise profits) to a football club has, unsurprisingly, had disastrous consequences. By limiting ambition to staying in the Premier Leagueand treating cups with contempt, Mike Ashley has created a soulless entity and shattered the hopes of generations of fans. Alan Pardew performed as well as he could as an apologist for Ashley, while John Carver has proved completely out of his depth. He might “bleed black and white” but he’s proved to be inept at both man management and tactics … and couldn’t even inspire his players to put up a fight in a derby. The owner, management, coaching staff and most of the players deserve to go down – the fans don’t. |
| The stars Ayoze Pérez has been a bright spark in a dark season, Daryl Janmaat has had us wondering why we were so upset about Mathieu Debuchy leaving and Jack Colback has been consistent. And Jonás Gutiérrez deserves credit, for obvious reasons. The flops Everyone else, more or less. | The stars Ayoze Pérez has been a bright spark in a dark season, Daryl Janmaat has had us wondering why we were so upset about Mathieu Debuchy leaving and Jack Colback has been consistent. And Jonás Gutiérrez deserves credit, for obvious reasons. The flops Everyone else, more or less. |
| Summer targets This clearly depends on what division we’re in. But players with guts, determination and experience wouldn’t go amiss. We hear Joey Barton might be available on a free … | Summer targets This clearly depends on what division we’re in. But players with guts, determination and experience wouldn’t go amiss. We hear Joey Barton might be available on a free … |
| Best and worst away fans Burnley were best; Manchester United worst. They were arrogant without having much to be arrogant about. | Best and worst away fans Burnley were best; Manchester United worst. They were arrogant without having much to be arrogant about. |
| Highlights montage music Tom Petty – Free Fallin’ | Highlights montage music Tom Petty – Free Fallin’ |
| West Ham – Pete May – HammersInTheHeart.blogspot.co.uk | West Ham – Pete May – HammersInTheHeart.blogspot.co.uk |
| 6/10 A bizarre season: great before Christmas and then relegation form after. On the positive side we were safe in March. Injuries haven’t helped – including Enner Valencia being crocked by crockery – and numerous points thrown away in added time suggest a concentration problem. Big Sam delivered what he was asked to early on with good signings, more attacking football and great wins over Man City and Liverpool. But the board dithering over his position has left gaffer and team looking demotivated. A large section of the crowd will never like him, but, unless we get an A-list replacement, letting Allardyce go is a high-risk strategy. | 6/10 A bizarre season: great before Christmas and then relegation form after. On the positive side we were safe in March. Injuries haven’t helped – including Enner Valencia being crocked by crockery – and numerous points thrown away in added time suggest a concentration problem. Big Sam delivered what he was asked to early on with good signings, more attacking football and great wins over Man City and Liverpool. But the board dithering over his position has left gaffer and team looking demotivated. A large section of the crowd will never like him, but, unless we get an A-list replacement, letting Allardyce go is a high-risk strategy. |
| The stars Aaron Cresswell, Diafra Sakho, Adrián, Kouyaté and Jenkinson – a big improvement at right-back. The flops The ageing Kevin Nolan doesn’t have a goal threat any more. Valencia looks skilful but hasn’t scored the goals his price tag demands. And Andy Carroll was the season’s fitness flop. | The stars Aaron Cresswell, Diafra Sakho, Adrián, Kouyaté and Jenkinson – a big improvement at right-back. The flops The ageing Kevin Nolan doesn’t have a goal threat any more. Valencia looks skilful but hasn’t scored the goals his price tag demands. And Andy Carroll was the season’s fitness flop. |
| Summer targets We need to sign Jenkinson permanently from Arsenal, plus a fit striker and a leader to replace Nolan. | Summer targets We need to sign Jenkinson permanently from Arsenal, plus a fit striker and a leader to replace Nolan. |
| Best and worst away fans Crystal Palace were noisy. Worst were Chelsea for celebrating like they’d won the league, as if… | Best and worst away fans Crystal Palace were noisy. Worst were Chelsea for celebrating like they’d won the league, as if… |
| Highlights montage music Stealers Wheel – Stuck in the Middle with You. | Highlights montage music Stealers Wheel – Stuck in the Middle with You. |
| 2.21pm BST14:21 | 2.21pm BST14:21 |
| Mike Ashley is in attendance at St James’s Park today, where he is sure to be showered in gifts, bombarded with flowers and have his name to sung to the rafters. Well-wishers will queue up around the ground to shake his hand and congratulate him on a job well done. | Mike Ashley is in attendance at St James’s Park today, where he is sure to be showered in gifts, bombarded with flowers and have his name to sung to the rafters. Well-wishers will queue up around the ground to shake his hand and congratulate him on a job well done. |
| Or maybe not. | Or maybe not. |
| 2.10pm BST14:10 | 2.10pm BST14:10 |
| So Papiss Cissé makes his first start for Newcastle since that fateful saliva-filled afternoon at Old Trafford back on 4 March. What we expect to be Sam Allardyce’s final West Ham XI is pretty much as expected. | So Papiss Cissé makes his first start for Newcastle since that fateful saliva-filled afternoon at Old Trafford back on 4 March. What we expect to be Sam Allardyce’s final West Ham XI is pretty much as expected. |
| 2.04pm BST14:04 | 2.04pm BST14:04 |
| The teams | The teams |
| Newcastle (4-2-3-1): Krul, Janmaat, Coloccini (c), Williamson, Dummett; Anita, Colback; Gutierrez, Sissoko, Rivière; Cissé. Subs: Woodman, R.Taylor, Gouffran, Ameobi, Cabella, de Jong, Perez. | Newcastle (4-2-3-1): Krul, Janmaat, Coloccini (c), Williamson, Dummett; Anita, Colback; Gutierrez, Sissoko, Rivière; Cissé. Subs: Woodman, R.Taylor, Gouffran, Ameobi, Cabella, de Jong, Perez. |
| West Ham (4-5-1): Adrian; Jenkinson, Burke, Reid, Cresswell; Downing, Song, Nolan (c), Kouyate, Valencia; Cole. Subs: Jaaskelainen, O’Brien, Tomkins, Amalfitano, Jarvis, Lee, Nene. | West Ham (4-5-1): Adrian; Jenkinson, Burke, Reid, Cresswell; Downing, Song, Nolan (c), Kouyate, Valencia; Cole. Subs: Jaaskelainen, O’Brien, Tomkins, Amalfitano, Jarvis, Lee, Nene. |
| Updated at 2.06pm BST | Updated at 2.06pm BST |
| 2.00pm BST14:00 | 2.00pm BST14:00 |
| Preamble | Preamble |
| Cheese with fruit in it. Mrs Brown’s Boys. Paper cuts. Own-brand tomato ketchup … some things are just rubbish. But nothing has been quite as rubbish as the 2015 version of Newcastle United. Remember when the season was almost a third over and Newcastle were fifth? Since then … | Cheese with fruit in it. Mrs Brown’s Boys. Paper cuts. Own-brand tomato ketchup … some things are just rubbish. But nothing has been quite as rubbish as the 2015 version of Newcastle United. Remember when the season was almost a third over and Newcastle were fifth? Since then … |
| LDWLLLWDLLWDDLWLLLLLLLLDL | LDWLLLWDLLWDDLWLLLLLLLLDL |
| Almost half the points they’ve mustered this season were earned in a four-week spell in late October and early November. That, though, has proved an island of success in an ocean of uselessness. So useless have they been since the champagne corks stopped popping on New Year’s Eve that they go into the final day knowing that anything other than a victory over that West Ham could see them relegated. | Almost half the points they’ve mustered this season were earned in a four-week spell in late October and early November. That, though, has proved an island of success in an ocean of uselessness. So useless have they been since the champagne corks stopped popping on New Year’s Eve that they go into the final day knowing that anything other than a victory over that West Ham could see them relegated. |
| If John Carver’s team (and at the moment you feel that word should be surrounded by inverted commas) can find a win against the Hammers then everything’s gravy. Anything other than a win and it’s up to Hull, who face Manchester United on the final day knowing that only a victory can save them. Beating Manchester United on the final day to survive? That would never happen, would it? | If John Carver’s team (and at the moment you feel that word should be surrounded by inverted commas) can find a win against the Hammers then everything’s gravy. Anything other than a win and it’s up to Hull, who face Manchester United on the final day knowing that only a victory can save them. Beating Manchester United on the final day to survive? That would never happen, would it? |