It was always going to be a difficult day for the Newcastle manager, returning to a ground to face a section of supporters still bitter over their relegation when he was still gaffa. But Glenn Roeder walked away the victor, although he felt he had to apologise for winding up West Ham fans during his side's 2-0 win at Upton Park.
Having booed him at the start, the home fans' were stunned when Damien Duff and Obafemi Martins scored the goals that rubber stamped a brilliant performance by Roeder's team. And apparently the home fans were upset when he repeatedly waved to the away support in the Centenary Stand responding to chants of "there's only one Glenn Roeder".
A number of West Ham fans surged towards the dugout shouting abuse at Roeder with security staff rapidly becoming involved on the touchline.
Roeder: "I apologise if I have upset the West Ham crowd and I obviously did. I did nothing more than any other opposing manager would do when his own supporters are cheering his name.
"Our supporters are the best in the country. They travel everywhere and are starved of success. They carried on singing my name and I carried on waving to them.
"I will put my reputation on the line - that Glenn Roeder has never been involved in causing any trouble. I'm not an excitable person. It was completely unintentional."