There was relief for West Ham United yesterday as Sunday’s opponents Newcastle United failed in their bid to throw David Moyes a curve ball.
West Ham will play Europa League football this season after amassing the club’s record Premier League points total last term.
While Newcastle finished 12th, West Ham ended the season in sixth.
But agonisingly the Hammers were just two points off earning a Champions League spot.
Many West Ham fans blame two strange performances against Newcastle as the Magpies did the double over the east Londoners.
West Ham played with 10 men for an hour of the game at St James’s Park during the run-in. The Hammers came back from 2-0 down to make it 2-2 with 10 minutes left. But up popped Arsenal loan star Joe Willock to spoil the party with a late winner.
Some West Ham fans were worried history might repeat itself when Newcastle were closing in on signing Willock permanently this week.
And reports emerged that Steve Bruce was eager to get a deal done with Arsenal in time to register Willock to face West Ham (Northern Echo).
That meant Newcastle had to get the deal done with Arsenal and the player in time to get the registration confirmed with the Premier League before midday on Friday.
There was relief for the Irons, though, as Newcastle confirmed they had failed to get the midfielder registered in time for Sunday’s season opener.
Willock will therefore have to wait for a week for his Newcastle debut against Aston Villa.
Moyes goes into the game with Angelo Ogbonna and Manuel Lanzini as injury doubts.
West Ham will have no new signings on display on Sunday. That’s unless the Scot elects to hand a debut to goalkeeper Alphonse Areola.
In other news, Jurgen Klopp delivers West Ham assessment ahead of new season.
And what West Ham have just done suggests Moyes is confident of imminent arrival.