West Ham did not have much to play for or celebrate as under pressure Newcastle got an important win without key players.
Newcastle and West Ham fans are actually very similar.
The Hammers and Magpies are as loyal and passionate as they come.
They’re also working class fanbases who are not afraid to let you know when they’re not happy.
When you earn the love of West Ham or Newcastle supporters, though, you’ll be hard pushed to find better elsewhere.
Both the Irons and Toon have spent too long in the shadows of their Premier League rivals.
Smaller clubs with less devoted fanbases have often out-performed West Ham and Newcastle.
The Hammers got to enjoy some long overdue glory by lifting a first major trophy in 43 years a couple of years ago.
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Newcastle are now aiming to have their day in the sun when they take on Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday.
Eddie Howe’s side arrived at the London Stadium as the team under pressure.
West Ham, clear from relegation with no real prospect of anything other than an outside chance of a top half finish, went into the game with a free hit of sorts.
Newcastle were under pressure to win in order to satisfy their mega rich ownership’s desire for European football. And they had to do so without several key players.
But West Ham were missing some influential stars too.
Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
What Newcastle fans did to West Ham star sums them up
The Hammers were without Crysencio Summerville, Niclas Fullkrug and Michail Antonio.
Meanwhile Lucas Paqueta had only just returned from injury to take his place on the bench.
So Graham Potter was without some star quality as well.
It proved to be a drab and uneventful game with the Hammers disappointingly losing 1-0.
There was some back and forth between the Newcastle and West Ham fans during the match.
Uninspired by their team’s passive performance, West Ham’s fans were very quiet throughout.
That’s to be expected with little jeopardy in the club’s season for some time now and performance levels nowhere near what supporters want or expect.
The travelling Toon Army took great glee in telling their Hammers counterparts that their support wasn’t very good, to put it politely.
But what Newcastle fans did to a West Ham star at the London Stadium sums them up.
As far as West Ham were concerned, the best moment of the night probably came before kick-off.
Just hours ahead of the clash, West Ham made a major Antonio announcement.
The Hammers confirmed that Antonio would be presented to the crowd before kick-off against Newcastle.
Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images
Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images
Antonio present to London Stadium crowd in emotional scenes
Less than three months have passed since Antonio was rushed to hospital with a broken limb after being pulled from the wreckage of his silver Ferrari at Epping Forest.
Anyone who saw the pictures at the time feared the very worst.
West Ham and Antonio himself have since admitted he is lucky to be alive.
With Antonio turning 35 this month, it was assumed by many he may never play football again. Certainly not at the top level with West Ham.
Hammers News revealed last month that Antonio is targeting a miraculous West Ham in May.
And there were emotional scenes as West Ham presented their number nine to the crowd before kick-off.
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West Ham fans unfurled a giant banner in tribute to the Jamaican forward.
It clearly had Antonio emotional and tearing up.
Some of Newcastle’s players took time to shake hands with Antonio out of respect as they emerged from the tunnel for kick-off.
Classy Newcastle fans join in West Ham’s Antonio chant
That class was matched by their fans in the crowd too.
West Ham supporters serenaded the striker with chants of ‘Antonio, Antonio, Antonioooo’.
It was arguably the loudest and most passionate the home support got all evening.
But the moment was made extra special as Newcastle’s 3,000 plus travelling contingent not only joined in the applause but the Antonio chant too.
It was a real touch of class which showed some things really are bigger than football rivalry.
Most opposition fans might join in the applause.
However, to join in the chant too really does sum up salt-of-the-earth Newcastle supporters.
Credit where it is due to them for a classy gesture.
And it may just have many Hammers fans rooting for them in that cup final this weekend.
Proper fans and a proper club – just like West Ham.