Newcastle United will be shown no "sympathy" by former boss Sam Allardyce - with the West Ham United manager determined to take three points away from St James' Park next weekend, and possibly relegate the Magpies in the process. The Magpies could be demoted on the final day of the season if Hull City beat Manchester United and they fail to conquer Allardyce's Hammers following the devastating 2-1 loss John Carver's side suffered at Queens Park Rangers on Saturday. And Allardyce, who endured a miserable seven months on Tyneside and is still angered by the way in which his Newcastle reign came to an end, does not intend to give his former employers an easy passage to Premier League survival. In theory Sunderland could be relegated instead of Hull or Newcastle, although the Black Cats are in the strongest position of the three, and the likelihood is that Allardyce could condemn the side who unceremoniously sacked him in January 2008 to their second relegation in seven seasons. Former Magpies captain Kevin Nolan could also feature for West Ham - but Andy Carroll will not be fit for his return to St James' Park - and Allardyce has told his players to show Newcastle no mercy. Speaking after West Ham lost 2-1 at home to Everton at the weekend, Allardyce told Sky Sports:
"We've (Allardyce, Nolan and Carroll) talked about it (going to Newcastle). When you look at the situation from our point of view it's about being professional, not about what we do because its Newcastle and we were there. "It's about trying to win there for our benefit and the justification for everybody else in terms of who are fighting that relegation battle. We have to try to do our very best. "You can't show sympathy for anybody, because nobody shows any sympathy for you."
In all honesty, Allardyce would almost certainly love nothing more than to send Newcastle down along with QPR and Burnley. Vengeance is best served cold, and Allardyce could dish up the sweetest revenge by condemning the Toon Army to Championship football next season. For all the latest NUFC News, Views and Transfers make sure to follow WhatCultureNUFC on Twitter and Facebook.
NUFC editor for WhatCulture.com/NUFC. History graduate (University of Edinburgh) and NCTJ-trained journalist. I love sports, hopelessly following Newcastle United and Newcastle Falcons. My pastimes include watching and attending sports matches religiously, reading spy books and sampling ales.
