It was probably the least enthusiastic chicken dance that Kevin Nolan had ever performed on the St. James' Park turf, but as his elbows flapped at his sides following his first-half winner, the crowd fell silent. They hadn't wanted the fan favourite to leave the club during the previous year, following his 29 goals from midfield during a two and a half year spell on Tyneside. Having blitzed Sunderland in the Tyne-Wear derby on Hallow's Eve in 2010 with a famous hat-trick, Nolan will forever be remembered fondly in these parts. But for 90 minutes on a cold November's afternoon in 2012, he was simply another Hammer, and he duly obliged, as he did what he did best at this ground. Slaloming home Joey O'Brien's mis-hot shot, the former Bolton Wanderers captain's effort ultimately decided the game, but the afternoon wasn't just about Nolan. It was a game of old adversaries catching up, with Newcastle boss Alan Pardew and West Ham manager Sam Allardyce both occupying the other one's former job. So often a double-act at the Toon, Andy Carroll was once again the foil for Kevin Nolan at St. James' Park - only his time it was in a Hammers shirt, while Demba Ba had scored seven goals in 12 games for the Londoners prior to his Newcastle move in 2011.