NUNO ESPIRITO SANTO virtually conceded defeat in West Ham’s relegation scrap — after Newcastle left them on the brink.
The 3-1 loss for Nuno’s side means they are relying on Chelsea to beat rivals Tottenham to give them any chance of a final-day miracle at home to Leeds.
Spurs, two points ahead and with a vastly better goal difference, need just a point on Tuesday night at Stamford Bridge, or at home to Everton on Sunday.
Away fans chanted “you’re not fit to wear the shirt” during the dismal defeat.
Nuno said: “What we did was not enough for us in the fight that we have.
“We are still in it — but realising that it’s extremely difficult.”
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Nick Woltemade got the opener before Will Osula celebrated the first of his double by donning a glove in a Michael Jackson tribute.
Sub Taty Castellanos got a stunning consolation — but Irons fans vented their anger in the closing stages.
Nuno added: “I understand they are frustrated and disappointed with what they saw — 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.”
Nuno’s decision to start with wing-backs backfired spectacularly as Toon surged into a 2-0 lead before defender Jean-Clair Todibo was hooked in place of striker Castellanos after just 26 minutes.
Hammers midfielder Mateus Fernandes said: “The first 20 minutes was so painful for us.
“We trained all week to do one thing and we arrived here and didn’t do it.
“It is our responsibility and we need to do much better. Since the first day it is the players who decide the games.
“Everyone needs to take responsibility for this moment and be a man. It is very hard to think about the future. It is difficult.
“Everything can happen. Hopefully Spurs lose against Chelsea and in the last match we go with everything. We have to believe.”
Captain Jarrod Bowen, now without a goal in 13 Prem games, said: “Things obviously don’t look great, we have to accept that.
“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.
“We never want to be relying on teams but we have put ourselves in this position.
“We have created this mess and we have to be big enough to watch it and accept what happens.”
The win kept alive Toon’s slim hopes of qualifying for the Conference League after in-form Osula took his tally to five goals in his last six Prem games.
Boss Eddie Howe, whose side head to Fulham on Sunday, said: “He’s really growing and improving all the time.
“To lead the line for Newcastle isn’t easy. There is a lot of pressure, expectation and responsibility that comes with that.
“I still feel he has got a lot to come which is really exciting.”
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