The Premier League relegation battle is way too close to call with only six points separating 13th-place Leeds and 20th-place Southampton, but 15th-place West Ham issued a strong statement on their Championship credentials by capitulating against Newcastle on Wednesday, 5-1.
The Hammers don't fear any side at London Stadium, and although Newcastle entered with a three-game win streak, David Moyes' team had gone four matches unbeaten while reaching the Europa Conference League quarterfinals. Maybe it was time to start looking up the table rather than fearing the trap door in East London.
But Callum Wilson gave Newcastle an early lead in the sixth-minute with Allan Saint-Maximin creating out wide, and then replay helped award the Toon's second after Joelinton beat West Ham's offside trap.
However, Kurt Zouma pulled one back for the home side before halftime, setting the stage for a second-half comeback. That didn't happen — instead Newcastle scored three more, beginning with this mistake from West Ham defender Nayef Aguerd. Moyes was visibly sickened by the play.
You could tell West Ham were crushed in mind, body and spirit because look what Łukasz Fabiański did next.
Fabianski.
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) April 5, 2023
Joelinton added his second in the 90th-minute for a final scoreline of 5-1. The Hammers are level on points with the three clubs behind them (including 18th-place Bournemouth) and only ahead by virtue of goal difference. Today's result didn't help, bringing West Ham down to negative 13.
It's going to be one of the greatest relegation struggles of all-time and for the first time in a while, Newcastle won't be involved. The Magpies are in third and three points clear of fifth-place Tottenham while still maintaining a game in hand.
