May 2015, Cheerleader was top of the UK charts and Tomorrowland was topping the box office, whilst that was going on in the entertainment sector Newcastle were on the cusp of a second relegation In less than a decade going into a vital last match of the season showdown with West Ham at St James’.

Newcastle nearly got off to the perfect start with goal dry striker Emmanuel Riviere narrowly missing the target with an effort he flashed across the face of goal, before the French striker missed again with an acrobatic effort heading wide of the mark. West Ham then settled into the game with Tim Krul needing to be alert to block a shot from Stewart Downing before the referee called time on the first half.

Newcastle then took charge of the opening exchanges of the second half with Riviere missing his third good chance of the match failing to connect with a Daryl Janmaat cross from six yards out. Finally, Newcastle took the lead and looked to be heading to safety after 54 minutes. An inviting cross to the far post by a returning Jonas Gutierrez was headed home by Moussa Sissoko past Hammers keeper Adrian to send Tyneside into raptures.

Vurnon Anita wasted a chance, breaking from his own half along with three of his teammates but played the ball into Adrian, before safety was secured with cancer-survivor Jonas Gutierrez adding an emotional second. The Argentine icon smashed a skidding shot past the Spaniard in the Hammers goal (with some help from a deflection) to send the Toon home happy with the party just beginning.

Player match ratings: Krul 6;Coloccini 7;Dummett 7; Janmaat 7; Williamson 6; Anita 6; Colback 7; Jonas Gutierrez 8*¹; Riviere 6; Sissoko 7¹; Cisse 6; Gouffran 5

Manager: John Carver (ENG)

West Ham Player Ratings: Adrian 5; Burke 6; Cresswell 6; Jenkinson 6; Reid 6; Downing 6; Kouyate 5; Nolan 5; Song 6; Valencia 5; Cole 5; Tomkins 5; Amalfitano 5; Lee 5

West Ham Manager: Sam Allardyce (ENG)

Trivia: Jonas Gutierrez was released by the club after this match, told as such on the phone by John Carver and Mike Ashley. The disrespect by Cashley in this instance was an even lower point for the fans in his unhealthy reign. The match also proved to be Allardyce’s last for West Ham as they announced he would not be up for renewal after the final whistle at St James’ Park.