West Ham United fans with resign banners before the Premier League match between Leeds United and West Ham United at Elland Road
If ever Newcastle are going to register an away win in the Premier League, surely the time is Sunday. The Hammers are in disarray, getting hammered repeatedly and despite changing manager have made their worst start to a season for 52 years.
Having won three successive games at home in three different competitions it's time for United to regain ground in the league when heading well south of the Tyne Bridge.
West Ham's supposed saviour Nuno Espirito Santo, the creator of a new Nottingham Forest last term, has just suffered three successive defeats and remains winless since replacing new Sweden boss Graham Potter in September.
A dismal return of just four points represents West Ham's joint worst beginning to a campaign, replicating that tally in the second tier of 1932-33 and in the top flight in 1973-74.
If it all ends in tears in the east end of London the Hammers would find themselves outside the Premier League for the first time since 2011-12. It is that serious - ask their increasingly disgruntled fans. Now tell me United cannot take advantage of such chaos and rock bottom confidence.
Will old Magpie Callum Wilson rescue Nuno against former team-mates? Come on Pope, Trippier, Burn et al. No friendship allowed. This is business. Time to take advantage of terrace unrest and player fragility.
Skipper Jarrod Bowen's loyalty must be getting severely tested. A quality player, England international in World Cup season, he is better than many around him.
While United have yet to win on the highway in the league they have kept three clean sheets in four away matches which arguers well. They did pick up three away points in the Champions League of course at the home of Belgian title winners Union, keeping another clean sheet while scoring four times themselves.
Another Hammer question is can their porous defence stop United at last scoring some Premier League goals to go with their European splurge. Of course United have to produce a few answers themselves. When you are playing catch up you have to catch up, not just threaten to do it and not rely purely on the opposition being generous. That being so a draw, or worse, a defeat to a team second bottom is hardly the way to do it.
Newcastle are a better team than West Ham. No question about that but they must go out and prove it. Tight at the back, vice-like grip in midfield, taking a chance in the home box. Play with an intensity and get the crowd on the back of their players. They are never more than a hairbreadth away from turning.
A supporter sit-in is expected after the full-time whistle on Sunday while a mass march will take place ahead of the following game against Burnley with fans set to hand in a petition which has so far gained more than 16,000 signatures.
While disruption reigns in the east end of London [don't we love Nick Woltemade up here?](https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/joelinton-slaps-tottenham-stars-back-32777930) The summer transfer window was dominated by big name, big price centre-forwards yet no one has done better than our tower block of a German who had the lowest credit rating of the lot. Have we missed the guy we won't even name? Naw, not at all.
Nice Man Nick made it six goals from a handful of appearances in the midweek Carabao Cup victory which makes him invaluable. He is a breath of fresh air, a different sort of line leader to the majority. Maybe he gets goals but he also drops deep, links with players, and has a touch of velvet.
Normally when a player arrives from abroad, especially at Newcastle who play a certain way which demands great physical input, there is a period of bedding in and gaining understanding. Not with Woltemade. Both Newcastle and the player thoroughly deserve what has happened given the outside noise around both at the time of the transfer.
Because of the totally unexpected long term injury to Yoane Wissa, United's other new attacker has been a regular on the start sheet which is a heavy workload he has made look light. While all around him were rested for the cup visit of Spurs there was our totem pole cheerily doing Geordie service.
Before I sign off here's a West Ham v Newcastle trivia question: which England defender scored a hat-trick against three different goalkeepers in the one match? The answer is Alvin Martin who notched past Martin Thomas, Chris Hedworth and Peter Beardsley during an 8-1 Hammering back in 1986. There were no sub keepers in those days.
I'm not expecting that much drama on Sunday nor a defeat either of any proportion. It has to be a NUFC victory. Per-lease, no excuses.