The defender was dismissed for a professional foul on Jermaine Jenas, himself given a red card less than a week earlier for a similar tackle.
But the Magpies could not make the man advantage count, and under-pressure Newcastle manager Graeme Souness and his team were booed off the pitch at the final whistle, while the jubilant travelling fans cheered Alan Pardew and his men down the tunnel following a spirited second-half display.
Having played captain Alan Shearer as a lone striker against Arsenal at Highbury on the first weekend of the season, Souness had opted to employ a three-pronged attack of Shearer, James Milner and Lee Bowyer against the Premiership new boys.
But it was Jenas, able to make his 150th appearance for the club after last Sunday's card was downgraded from red to yellow, who had Newcastle's first serious effort in the 20th minute, bursting into the West Ham box from a Shearer pass and opting to shoot across Roy Carroll rather than playing in team-mate Scott Parker.
His effort was well held by Carroll, and three minutes later West Ham almost took the lead themselves when captain Teddy Sheringham played in Israel midfielder Yossi Benayoun, who went into a 50-50 challenge with Magpies goalkeeper Shay Given.
The ball bobbled behind a stranded Given, but left-back Celestine Babayaro was able to hook the ball away well before it crossed the line.
Boyhood Hammers fan and former player Lee Bowyer had a chance in the 29th minute, with Shearer flicking a Parker free-kick into his path in the visitors' box. Bowyer, under-pressure from two West Ham players, cut inside but fluffed his left-foot shot.
Four minutes before the break Given cannoned a goal kick against Marlon Harewood, but before the West Ham striker could bring it under control Steven Taylor and Jean Alain Boumsong did enough to put him off and after a frantic few moments Newcastle cleared the danger.
Neither manager made a change at the half-time break, but four minutes into the new half Sheringham was replaced by Shaun Newton as Lee Clark, in his second spell at St James', received a standing ovation as he warmed up in front of the Milburn Stand.
Nine minutes into the half St James' erupted when Jenas was brought down five yards outside the box by Konchesky after a fine run through the middle from a Milner pass.
Konchesky was then sent off by Dermot Gallagher despite appearing to win the ball. Shearer struck the resultant free-kick low and into the hands of Carroll.
Midfielder Clark was brought on in the 64th minute for Charles N'Zogbia for his first appearance for Newcastle since May 1997.
And he almost sent the Magpies into the lead with his first meaningful touch three minutes later, forcing a desperate save from Carroll from his left-foot shot after breaking into the box from a ball upfield from Babayaro.
But chances remained few and far between and as the half wore on the home fans' frustration grew, with Newcastle failing to break down their ten-man opposition.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Steven Taylor (Newcastle United) - Showed just why the Magpies tied him down to a new four-year contract on the eve of this fixture with another mature display alongside Jean Alain Boumsong in the centre of defence. Strong in the tackle and composed in possession, the 19-year-old looks a future England star.