---
title: "“Open and careless”… Former West Ham captain on Hammers’ approach in Newcastle defeat"
canonical: "https://readwestham.com/2026/05/18/nigel-reo-coker-on-west-ham-approach-in-newcastle-defeat/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Ralphael Adelugba"
section: "West Ham News"
published: "2026-05-18T12:30:00Z"
modified: "2026-05-18T12:39:00Z"
---

# “Open and careless”… Former West Ham captain on Hammers’ approach in Newcastle defeat

- **West Ham United defeated 3-1 by Newcastle United on Sunday**
- **Former West Ham captain Nigel Reo-Coker called Nuno Espirito Santo’s decisions ‘odd’**
- **The Hammers remain in the Premier League relegation zone**

West Ham United’s 3-1 defeat to Newcastle United on Sunday means they are one foot out of the Premier League door. If [Tottenham Hotspur](https://readtottenham.com/) were to collect three points against Chelsea on Tuesday night, it would guarantee the Hammers’ return to the Championship. A draw from Spurs would still all but inflict the same fate with their significant goal difference.

[Nuno Espirito Santo’s](https://readwestham.com/2026/05/18/nuno-espirito-santo-apologises-following-west-ham-defeat-at-newcastle/) team promoted a sense of belief ahead of the clash at St James’ Park, but from the first ball kicked, the Irons were flat and flawed. The [Hammers](https://readwestham.com/) were doomed for a result from the 20th minute after two early goals in a display that only a club on the verge of relegation could put on.

[Sky Sports’ Roy Keane slammed West Ham’s performance](https://readwestham.com/2026/05/18/roy-keane-slams-west-ham-performance-in-newcastle-defeat/) as ‘schoolboy stuff,’ and another prominent pundit has had his say on the defeat.

## **Former West Ham captain Nigel Reo-Coker called Nuno Espirito Santo’s decisions ‘open and careless’**

Former West Ham captain Nigel Reo-Coker branded West Ham’s approach to the [Newcastle](https://readnewcastle.com/) game as ‘open and careless.’

*“Tough result but you have to give credit to Newcastle, they played well,”* Reo-Coker, who served as a Hammers captain during his three-year stay between 2004 and 2007, told the [BBC Sport Football Daily podcast](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002x04g).

*“When you look at the goals West Ham conceded, they are just poor goals. You can’t be in a relegation fight, with everything at stake, and you go away to St James’ Park and be so open and so careless in how you approach the game.”*

*“Defensively the goals conceded are so poor. It was always a mountain to climb after the start they had, but even after that in the first half I thought if West Ham can get a goal before half time then it would be game on.”*

Reo-Coker was also left by Nuno’s choice to opt for Callum Wilson over Valentín Castellanos, [who scored West Ham’s consolation goal on the day](https://readwestham.com/2026/05/17/newcastle-united-3-1-west-ham-premier-league/). Wilson has only started 11 league games this season, and, as seen in his cameo against Arsenal, [where his equaliser momentarily earned West Ham a point before being chalked off](https://readwestham.com/2026/05/13/callum-wilson-verdict-west-ham-disallowed-goal-vs-arsenal/), his current profile is better suited to short bursts of action.

“Now, they have handed the advantage massively to Tottenham,” Reo-Coker added.

*“You might question Nuno over why Taty Castellanos didn’t start which is an odd one. He started Callum Wilson up top and for me, I don’t know if it’s because he’s playing against his former club or why, but Taty has been playing most games and playing well.*

*“For me it’s an odd one when you look at team selection. You’d think he would have made a difference if he started.*

*“Spurs have the advantage now but I think it will still go down to the final day.”*

West Ham remain in the Premier League relegation zone, two points behind Spurs.