Nuno Espirito Santo issues West Ham rallying cry as relegation peril intensifies with Newcastle loss | OneFootball

Irons’ fate now out of their hands as Tottenham hold all the cards in race to beat the drop

Nuno Espirito Santo is insistent West Ham can stay in the Premier League this season, but has acknowledged the relegation battle may now be out of his team’s hands.

The Irons fell to an insipid 3-1 defeat away in Newcastle on Sunday, leaving them two points adrift of safety with one match left to play.

Their fate now lies largely in the hands of Tottenham, who can confirm their own safety and West Ham’s relegation to the second tier if they win at Chelsea on Tuesday night.

West Ham are staring relegation in the face after being beaten on Tyneside

PA

“Let's wait on Tuesday,” he told Sky Sports. “But we have been in these situations in recent weeks where you have chances to go and don't take it, then we expect what is happening in other games. It is possible but it is difficult.”

Nuno started West Ham in a back three at St James’ Park but was quick to react as his side trailed 2-0 with less than 20 minutes on the clock. He withdrew Jean-Claire Todibo and moved to a back-four, but the change brought little effect.

Asked if he named the wrong team on Tyneside, Nuno held up his hands: "Maybe we prepare badly? Maybe we made mistakes, we have to look. If you look at the game then probably, yes.

"We had a big disadvantage because we conceded two goals, but the game was not lost. We tried to react but the way we conceded was poor. Even though we tried to react it was not enough.

Nick Woltemade drew first blood after just 15 minutes at St James’ Park

Getty

“I saw mistakes, the disorganisation of the team, we were too open, allowing Newcastle to play. It was a very difficult match for us."

He continued, challenging his team to finish the season “with dignity and respect”.

“We started poor, we were soft. The way we conceded the first goal and second goal, everything is much harder.

“Let's try to finish the season with dignity and respect for the club. It is a hard week ahead of us but we owe it to the club to try untl the end.

"Of course I understand [fans' anger].They are frustrated and disappointed with what they saw today, and 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.

"The way we started the game was really bad but like I said we have been trying to improve and get better. Today was not a step forward. We have to realise our situation is very, very difficult, a lot of anxiety and nerves and these things don't help, but we have to take responsibility."