Kieran Trippier played his last game at St. James’ Park on Sunday. The crowd gave him a proper send-off. He came off late in the second half to a standing ovation and did not look back.
Newcastle beat West Ham 3-1. Woltemade in the 15th. Osula in the 19th and the 65th. Castellanos off the bench for a consolation in the 69th. Done before the hour mark in terms of contest.
West Ham are now one result away from the Championship. If Tottenham win at Chelsea on Tuesday, the Hammers are down. Even a draw might not be enough given the goal difference gap. Nuno Espirito Santo arrived to save this club. He has not managed it.
Woltemade ended a five-month league goal drought with the opener. Harvey Barnes played him in down the left channel, the German did not hesitate. Left foot, bottom corner, Hermansen beaten. Fifteen minutes gone. St. James’ Park up immediately.
Four minutes later Osula made it two. Tonali’s cross from deep found him at the back post. He took one touch and finished low. 2-0 before twenty minutes had been played. West Ham had barely got their bearings.
The first half was straightforward after that. West Ham tried. They did not create much. Callum Wilson got a cross in the box in a promising position and shot weakly wide. Jarrod Bowen played long balls forward that found nobody. A team going through the motions of trying to get back into a game their legs and confidence would not allow them to win.
2-0 at half-time. The atmosphere inside St. James’ was comfortable rather than anxious. Newcastle knew what they had. West Ham knew what was coming.
Osula settled it in the 65th. A move through the middle of the pitch, the ball fed into the box, and Osula was clinical. Two goals in the same game for the first time this season. He does not score often but he scored when the ground needed it most — Trippier’s farewell needed the right backdrop and three goals provided it.
Castellanos changed everything when he came on. That is not an overstatement. The Argentine’s energy was immediate — ran at the Newcastle backline, held the ball up properly, gave his teammates an outlet. He hit the crossbar with a thunderous effort before scoring in the 69th. The away end finally had something to celebrate. His introduction made the final twenty minutes genuinely competitive in a way the previous 70 had not been.
But 3-1 was always 3-1. Newcastle were not giving it up.
Trippier came off shortly after. Elanga replaced him. The full-back walked past the dugout to applause from both sets of supporters — even the away end acknowledged it. There are rumours this is his last season at the club too. Sunday felt like a proper send-off regardless of what comes next.
West Ham have not scored in their last three away league games before this one. They scored one today. From a substitute, late, when the game was already dead. That is the summary of their attacking season in a single sentence.
Nuno took over a club that was struggling and could not turn it around. The squad lacks quality across the board. They have no reliable goalscorer. They have no reliable shape. They have no momentum going into the final day and no margin for error depending on what happens at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday.
Tottenham need to beat Chelsea to send West Ham down immediately. A draw at Chelsea would effectively do the same given the goal difference. Even if Spurs lose, West Ham would need to beat Leeds and hope Spurs then lose to Everton on the final day. The scenarios are stacking up against them.
Newcastle finish somewhere in the middle of the table. Better than it looks. Gordon missing for months, Joelinton carrying a thigh issue. Howe hinted after Sunday that Gordon may have already played his final game at the club with Bayern Munich reportedly interested. That conversation will dominate the summer.
For more Premier League coverage visit FawaNews Premier League. Full standings, results and final day fixtures at the official Premier League website.
Newcastle United 3-1 West Ham United Premier League Matchday 37 | Sunday, 17 May 2026 | St. James’ Park | Referee: Jarred Gillett
Goals: Nick Woltemade 15′ | William Osula 19′, 65′ (NEW) | Valentín Castellanos 69′ (WHU)
Newcastle XI: Pope | Hall, Botman, Thiaw, Trippier | Tonali, Guimarães | Barnes, Woltemade, Ramsey | Osula Subs: Elanga (for Trippier), others
West Ham XI: Hermansen | Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Disasi, Mavropanos | Soucek, Fernandes | Diouf, Bowen, Summerville | Wilson Subs: Castellanos (for Wilson)
Possession NEW 55.3% WHU 44.7% | Shots on goal NEW 5 WHU 3 | Corners NEW 6 WHU 1 | Saves NEW 3 WHU 2
HT: 2-0 | FT: 3-1 Table: Newcastle 13th (49 pts) | West Ham 18th (36 pts, brink of relegation)
