Nuno Espirito Santo cut a dispirited figure as he bemoaned a "bad, bad" performance from his West Ham side, who lost 3-1 to Newcastle United at St James' Park on Sunday. 

That defeat leaves West Ham on the brink of relegation from the Premier League, as they are now two points from safety with only one game, against Leeds United, to play.

They could find themselves relegated as early as Tuesday, if Tottenham defeat Chelsea.

And even if the battle goes to the final day, they would realistically need Spurs to lose at home to Everton.

Nuno's side were second-best right from the first whistle on Tyneside, with Nick Woltemade and William Osula putting Newcastle 2-0 up inside the opening 19 minutes. 

Osula added his second after the break, and though Valentin Castellanos sparked brief hopes of a comeback with a superb lob, it was not to be for the Hammers. 

"This is bad, bad. Overall bad performance. Too many things went wrong," Nuno told BBC Sport. 

"I think we gifted them the goals. Really disappointing. Look, it's going to be a tough week for us. We realise the situation is extremely difficult for us.  

"Let's see what happens on Tuesday. More than anything it's about respect, work, and competing in our last game at the London Stadium." 

When asked whether his team selection and formation contributed to the defeat, Nuno was candid, adding: "Maybe we prepared badly? Maybe we made mistakes, we have to look. If you look at the game, then probably, yes. 

"Let's look at the game. We started poorly, we were soft. The way we conceded the first goal and second goal, everything was much harder.  

"Let's try to finish the season with dignity and respect for the club. It is a hard week ahead of us, but we owe it to the club to try until the end. 

"We will wait until Tuesday, but we have been in these situations in recent weeks, when you have chances to go [out of the bottom three] and don't take it, then we expect what might happen in other games. It is possible but it is difficult." 

West Ham have lost three consecutive Premier League games for a third time this season (also in October and December).  

Before their current run of three successive defeats, the Hammers had lost just three of their previous 13 league matches (W6 D4). 

According to the Opta Supercomputer, West Ham are given a 93.83% chance of being relegated, while 17th-placed Tottenham have a 6.17% chance. 

Newcastle, meanwhile, kept their very slim European hopes alive with the victory, which was also Kieran Trippier's final match for them at St James' Park. 

"It wasn't the perfect game for us, but it was very good in phases, especially in the first half. I thought we were excellent with the ball and really creative," Eddie Howe told Sky Sports. 

"We have seen big progression in the last weeks, a much better performance." 

When asked about Trippier's impact on the club, the Newcastle boss waxed lyrical, adding: "Knowing Kieran as well as I do now, he is brilliant on the pitch, but it's off the pitch as well.  

"The stabilising effect he has in the dressing room, positivity in difficult moments and the way he inspires the players – he's a really inspiring leader and, wherever he goes, the club will be very lucky."