David Moyes admitted his job could be on the line after West Ham’s 5-1 humiliation at home to Newcastle.
Callum Wilson and Joelinton both scored twice, along with Alexander Isak, as West Ham’s defence suffered a collective meltdown.
The Hammers were still in the game when Kurt Zouma’s header made it 2-1 at half-time.
But awful mistakes by Nayef Aguerd – just 21 seconds into the second half – and Lukasz Fabianski gifted further goals to Wilson and substitute Isak before Joelinton helped himself to number five.
“At 2-1 at half-time I’m saying we’re right in the game, then 20 seconds later we’d given ourselves a mountain to climb.
“Anyone can make an individual mistake as a defender but we got two tonight which was a real shock.
“As manager you always have to front up. I’m a big boy, I’ve left jobs at other times in the past and if that happens I’ll have to go with that.
“But I really like my job here, I’ve enjoyed my time here greatly and I really hope we’ve got a couple of big days ahead in the future. But we’ve been given a spanking tonight.”
“It’s tradition now,” the striker told Sky Sports. “Sometimes you have teams you enjoy playing against. You have a feeling you’re going to score.”
Magpies manager Eddie Howe was well aware Wilson, who also played under him at Bournemouth, had a prolific record against the Hammers.
“I’m lucky to have managed Callum for most of those goals,” he said.
“I’m aware of his record against West Ham. I wouldn’t say it was the defining reason I picked him, but it played a part.”
“Probably since the World Cup we haven’t been as clinical,” added Howe.
“Tonight was roles reversed. We weren’t perfect, West Ham made it a good game, but when the chances came we took them.
“We looked a little fatigued, I don’t think we were great in elements of our game but mentally we got through it.
“Nothing is going to be decided in the short term, but these are big wins.”
