Weighed down by a poor start, West Ham lost on Sunday at Newcastle (3-1) and risk being relegated as early as Tuesday to the English second division if their relegation rival, Tottenham, avoids defeat at Chelsea.

West Ham (18th, 36 pts) will officially be relegated to the Championship, fourteen years after their last stint there, if Tottenham Hotspur (17th, 38 pts) win at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday.

The relegation will even be unofficial in the event of a draw in the London derby, due to the Hammers' very unfavorable goal difference compared to Tottenham (-22, against -9).

Nuno Espirito Santo's team, beaten for the third time in a row, paid the price on Sunday at St James Park for their poor start to the match.

Goalkeeper Mads Hermansen misjudged a clearance, allowing Harvey Barnes to cross and be headed past Axel Disasi (15th minute, 1-0). Then, on a quick counter-attack, Jacob Ramsey spotted space in the central defense and set up William Osula (19th minute, 2-0).

"The way we conceded the first and then the second makes everything much more difficult. Let's try to finish the season with dignity and with respect for the club. The week ahead will be difficult, but we owe it to the club to fight until the end," Nuno commented on Sky Sports.

The Portuguese coach quickly substituted French defender Jean-Clair Todibo with striker Valentin Castellanos, known as Taty (26th minute), and the dynamic of the match was completely reversed.

The Argentinian tested Nick Pope's reflexes (29th) and scored a superb goal in the second half, with a volley struck off balance after a long clearance from his goalkeeper (69th, 3-1).

But it was a small consolation, after Osula's brace (65th, 3-0).