Newcastle United striker William Osula scored twice as his side beat West Ham United 3-1 at St James’ Park on Sunday, leaving the Londoners perilously close to relegation from the Premier League after another chaotic display.
With Wolverhampton Wanderers and Burnley already relegated, West Ham are in 18th place with 36 points, two behind Tottenham Hotspur. Spurs could doom the team to defeat if they beat Chelsea in the penultimate league match of the season at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday.
Once again, West Ham were punished by a lack of precision, with inaccurate passing and wayward finishing costing the side a chance at a win they desperately needed to have a chance of survival.
The tone was set in the 15th minute when the visitor gave the ball away cheaply and Harvey Barnes crossed for Nick Woltemade with a deft side-foot finish, his first league goal since December.
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Four minutes later they were 2–0 down when Newcastle cut the team open and Osula slotted the ball through the keeper’s legs for a simple finish, leaving the West Ham defenders shaking their heads.
The Hammers had two big chances to reduce the deficit after just half an hour, but Nick Pope made two excellent saves to deny Taty Castellanos and Malick Diouf in quick succession.
Osula’s second goal in the 65th minute looked to have ended the match, but Castellanos threw his side a lifeline four minutes later with a stunning finish.
Castellanos then hit the woodwork in the 78th minute and went close with a glancing header that almost caught Pope off guard six minutes later, but that was as close as they got.
West Ham now wait anxiously to see if Chelsea can do some favors against Spurs and give the team something to play for at home to Leeds United on the final day of the season next Sunday.
«The first 20 minutes were so painful for us. We had trained all week to do one thing, and we got here and didn’t do it,» said West Ham midfielder Mateus Fernandes, adding that he and his teammates were responsible for the poor performance.
«This week we just have to believe and do our things. It’s our responsibility and we have to do much better… Since day one, it’s the players who decide the games; everyone has to take responsibility at this moment and be a man.»
Published on May 18, 2026
