Newcastle United have survived on the final weekend of the Premier League season following a 2-0 win over West Ham United.
The Magpies entered the game knowing that all three points would keep them up regardless of Hull City's result against Manchester United, and goals from Moussa Sissoko and Jonas Gutierrez secured all the points for John Carver's strugglers.
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Newcastle started on the front foot and came close inside the opening two minutes when Papiss Cisse and Emmanuel Riviere combined inside the West Ham box, but the latter could only slice wide of the post.
Riviere had another opportunity in the seventh minute when the forward met a cross from Daryl Janmaat, but his header was always moving wide of the post.
The game settled in the period that followed, but the hosts remained the more dangerous team.
Jonas and Vurnon Anita both had opportunities for Newcastle in the 19th minute, but the latter's effort was blocked, before Anita fired wide of the post from close range.
West Ham's best chance arrived in the 25th minute when Stewart Downing found space inside the Newcastle box, but Tim Krul was on hand to make a smart save.
Newcastle remained a threat, however, and came close in the 32nd minute when Janmaat set up Riviere with another fine cross, but the striker could only scuff his effort into the arms of Adrian.
Newcastle came close to breaking the deadlock early in the second period when Mike Williamson met a cross from Jack Colback, but the centre-back's header was just wide of the post.
The home side continued to look the most likely early in the second half, with Jonas coming close to sliding a pass into Cisse, but Adrian was quick off his line to make a well-timed clearance.
Moments later, Riviere had a golden chance to convert a low cross from Janmaat, but the striker failed to make contact in one of the misses of the season.
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Newcastle did take the lead in the 54th minute, however, when Sissoko powered a header past Adrian after connecting with a perfect cross from Jonas.
Hull City were struggling to break down Manchester United, meanwhile, which created an extra cushion for Newcastle.
West Ham came close to opening their tally in the 70th minute when Morgan Amalfitano crossed towards Carlton Cole, who flicked the ball towards Kevin Nolan, but the midfielder's effort was always moving wide of the post.
Newcastle then missed a couple of chances through Anita, but their second came five minutes from time when Jonas's deflected effort found its way into the bottom corner, bringing jubilation to the stands and keeping Carver's team in the league.
Matt Law
