NOT SO LONG ago it was West Ham United who were leading the table for ‘letting leads in Premier League games slip away’. Who can fail to remember the Chelsea debacle when the [Hammers](https://www.claretandhugh.info/chelsea-3-2-west-ham-united-the-morning-after/) lead 2-0 but ultimately lost 3-2. The Irons were top of the ‘_points lost from winning positions’_ table for so long it could have been named in their honour.
### But now there’s a new team leading that particular chart of shame.
And the good news is that West Ham have to play them on the penultimate matchday of the season.
_**“Newcastle** are throwing their season away”_ Claim [SkySports](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11699/13531020/newcastle-are-throwing-their-season-away-after-giving-up-another-lead-at-crystal-palace-premier-league-hits-and-misses) this morning:
_Had Newcastle not lost all of the points they have from losing positions, they would be second. If they had not lost just half of those points, they would be in fifth._
_Eddie Howe called it a “blight” on their season, while Aaron Ramsdale suggested their 25 points dropped is the “story” of their campaign. **No team has dropped more while ahead and Newcastle are clear out front by five points.**_
And the Irons have a date with Howe’s Magpies on 17th of May in what could turn out to be a season-defining moment for West Ham – by which time Newcastle will likely have nothing to play for except the odd million in prize money for a disappointing finale.
Currently sitting fourteenth, one place above Leeds – they are safe from relegation but have little else to work for.
Which suits West Ham just fine as they seek one of the three wins they’d love to capture between now and the Leeds season finale to ensure Premier League survival.
Incredible, really, to see the Magpies _just one place_ above Leeds: They’ve lost seven of their last ten matches – which means the Hammers will no longer fear the trip to St James’ Park but instead, earmark three points as a distinct possibility.