But let's take heart from the fact West Ham are hardly Premiership title contenders, and they fell at newly-promoted West Brom last week.
West Ham's last fixture:-
WEST BROM 3 WEST HAM 2
Let's Go And Spoil The Hammers Party!
But let's take heart from the fact West Ham are hardly Premiership title contenders, and they fell at newly-promoted West Brom last week.
West Ham's last fixture:-
WEST BROM 3 WEST HAM 2
WHU: Green, Neill, Davenport, Upson, Ilunga,Behrami (Faubert 65), Parker, Noble,Boa Morte (Etherington 79), Ashton (Di Michele 19), Cole.
Subs Not Used: Lastuvka, Bellamy, Mullins, Tomkins.
Gianfranco Zola was given a glimpse of the task awaiting him at West Ham as Chris Brunt struck a late winner for West Brom at The Hawthorns.
Zola, who starts work on Monday, had seen his new side recover from conceding an early goal to James Morrison to lead 2-1 thanks to goals from Mark Noble and captain Lucas Neill.
But a penalty from Roman Bednar levelled matters for the home side before Brunt grabbed the clincher seven minutes from time to give Albion their first win of the Premier League campaign.
Zola watched from the stands and will be aware that much work needs to be done defensively if the Hammers are to make strides forward.
TRAVELLING TO THE BOLEYN GROUND ....
Away Fans ....
Away fans are housed in one end, in the lower tier of the relatively new North Stand (also known as the Centenary Stand). The usual allocation for away supporters is 2,200, but if demand requires, away fans can be allocated the whole of the lower tier of the North Stand, where up to 3,600 supporters can be accommodated.
The ground is compact, with the fans are seated close to the pitch. This coupled with the passionate support of the West Ham faithful can make for a vibrant atmosphere. However this can be intimidating for away supporters, so exercise caution around the ground.Where To Drink ...
Most of the pubs around the ground are quite partisan, and are for home supporters only. So respect where you are, if you happen to get in.
The Boleyn Pub on the corner near to the ground, plus Queens, The Greengate, Wine Bar, Village and 'The Central' pubs on Barking Road can be rough. Probably the best option for away fans is the Wetherspoons outlet called Millers Well which is opposite East Ham Town Hall. It is though about a twenty minute walk away along Barking Road (although it may be an idea to travel to East Ham tube station before the game, go to the pub and then walk to the ground). Another good option is the Denmark Arms also on the Barking Road near the East Ham Town Hall; this is a large pub which shows all live football games.
Away fans may also be able to drink in the 'Duke Of Edinburgh' near to Upton Park Tube Station. Turn left out of the tube station and walk to the mini roundabout and it's on your right.
Getting There ...
Directions from the M25:
Travel to M25 Junction 27, and go on to the M11 southbound. Follow the M11 south until it divides to join the A406 (North Circular Road). Take the Left Hand fork signposted A406 South. Do not follow the signs for the City.
The end of the motorway joins the A406 from the left, creating a 4 lane road for a short distance. You need to be in one of the outside 2 lanes (this can be tricky if traffic is heavy). Proceed south (dual carriageway with slip roads) passing the junctions for Redbridge, and Ilford.
Leave the A406 at the Barking junction. At the roundabout at the bottom of the slip road, turn right, taking the 3rd exit towards East Ham (Barking Road). Proceed West along Barking Road through several sets of traffic lights until you have passed the lights at East Ham Town Hall (big red Victorian building on the left just before the lights). 3/4 mile further, you pass the ground on your right (behind a parade of shops, including the Hammers Shop). At the next lights (Boleyn Arms Pub on right hand corner), turn right into Green Street. The main entrance to the ground is 200 yards on your right.Travel to M25 Junction 27, and go on to the M11 southbound. Follow the M11 south until it divides to join the A406 (North Circular Road). Take the Left Hand fork signposted A406 South. Do not follow the signs for the City.
The end of the motorway joins the A406 from the left, creating a 4 lane road for a short distance. You need to be in one of the outside 2 lanes (this can be tricky if traffic is heavy). Proceed south (dual carriageway with slip roads) passing the junctions for Redbridge, and Ilford.
On Saturday matchdays, parking is very restricted with little or no off-road parking. The best areas to look for spaces are roads left of Barking Road, once you are past the lights at East Ham Town Hall. Andy Wright suggests; 'You can park at Newham General Hospital, where there is a pay and display car park, which costs £1.50 for four hours, or £3.50 for six. To find the hospital; From Barking Road, passing the ground on your right, after a few traffic lights turn left into Prince Regent Lane (Newham General is signposted at the lights ), the hospital is just up this road and is about a 15 minute stroll away from the ground.
I can offer an alternative route from the M11 to avoid the nightmare of Barking Road on a Saturday. After leaving the M11 on the A406 take the exit for A12 signposted Stratford. Stay on this road taking the underpass to the Green Man roundabout, which is a major junction. Then take the A11, again signposted Stratford. After about three miles turn left onto the A112 signposted East Ham, through Plaistow. Carry on over the junction with Barking Road (A124). Third left after this junction is Glen Road, which takes you to the aforementioned Newham Hospital for parking. I find this journey a lot easier, although not recommended for midweek matches as the traffic gets too heavy.
An alternative route; 'come off the M25 at J29 and take the A127 to Upminster. Park at Upminster tube station (£1 for the day) and for £3.50 you can get a return ticket to Upton Park which will get you there in less than 25 minutes.
Tube ...
The nearest tube station is Upton Park which is on the District, plus the Hammersmith & City Lines. The station is a short walk from the ground. Please note that West Ham tube station is nowhere near the ground.
The queue at Upton Park tube station after the game can be horrendous. You are better off going for a couple of pints and letting the queues die down. There are plenty of pubs along Plaistow High Road which are only a 5-10 minute walk from the stadium and as long as visitors are 'well behaved' they are more than made welcome.
After the game you are probably best to walk up to East Ham, which will at least mean you will get a seat, before everyone else gets on at Upton Park. The queue at Upton Park tube station after the game can be horrendous. You are better off going for a couple of pints and letting the queues die down. There are plenty of pubs along Plaistow High Road which are only a 5-10 minute walk from the stadium and as long as visitors are 'well behaved' they are more than made welcome.
Craig Belcher a visiting West Brom fan adds; 'Rather than face the long queues at Upton Park, we walked down to the next station on the line, Plaistow, which is only a ten minute walk away from Upton Park. We managed to get on a tube okay, as apparently according to station staff the tubes are not filled to full capacity on leaving Upton Park''. Just turn left after Upton Park station, into Harold Road. Walk down to the end of this road (it becomes Terrace Road) and then bear left into Pelly Road/Clegg St. At the bottom of Clegg Street is a T-junction with Plaistow High Street. Turn right into the High Street and Plaistow station is further down on the left.
Whilst Andrew Saffrey suggests; 'Forest Gate station is about 25 minutes walk from Upton Park, and it's much less busy than Upton Park Station after the final whistle. It is served by local Great Eastern trains from Liverpool Street. Turn right out of the station, then left at the corner next to the pizza shop into Hampton Road. Walking down Hampton Road, turn first right into Richmond Road, a small street with traffic calming and lots of roundabouts. Go straight down this road and this eventually becomes Green Street. Then for the long walk down Green Street which has lots of shops and takeaways, before arriving at Upton Park'.
NEWCASTLE v WEST HAM - PREMIERSHIP RECORD ...
2007/2008 Sat 26 Apr West Ham Utd. 2 - 2 Newcastle Utd. Premier League
Sun 23 Sep Newcastle Utd. 3 - 1 West Ham Utd. Premier League
2006/2007 Sat 20 Jan Newcastle Utd. 2 - 2 West Ham Utd. Premiership
Sun 17 Sep West Ham Utd. 0 - 2 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
2005/2006 Sat 17 Dec West Ham Utd. 2 - 4 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
Sat 20 Aug Newcastle Utd. 0 - 0 West Ham Utd. Premiership
2002/2003 Sat 11 Jan West Ham Utd. 2 - 2 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
Mon 19 Aug Newcastle Utd. 4 - 0 West Ham Utd. Premiership
2001/2002 Sat 27 Apr Newcastle Utd. 3 - 1 West Ham Utd. Premiership
Sun 23 Sep West Ham Utd. 3 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
2000/2001 Mon 16 Apr Newcastle Utd. 2 - 1 West Ham Utd. Premiership
Sat 28 Oct West Ham Utd. 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
1999/2000 Wed 12 Apr West Ham Utd. 2 - 1 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
Mon 03 Jan Newcastle Utd. 2 - 2 West Ham Utd. Premiership
1998/1999 Sat 20 Mar West Ham Utd. 2 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
Sat 31 Oct Newcastle Utd. 0 - 3 West Ham Utd. Premiership
1997/1998 Sat 07 Feb Newcastle Utd. 0 - 1 West Ham Utd. Premiership
Sat 20 Sep West Ham Utd. 0 - 1 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
1996/1997 Tue 06 May West Ham Utd. 0 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
Sat 16 Nov Newcastle Utd. 1 - 1 West Ham Utd. Premiership
1995/1996 Mon 18 Mar Newcastle Utd. 3 - 0 West Ham Utd. Premiership
Wed 21 Feb West Ham Utd. 2 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
1994/1995 Wed 08 Mar Newcastle Utd. 2 - 0 West Ham Utd. Premiership
Wed 31 Aug West Ham Utd. 1 - 3 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
1993/1994 Sat 19 Mar West Ham Utd. 2 - 4 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
Sat 25 Sep Newcastle Utd. 2 - 0 West Ham Utd. Premiership