Newcastle United stuck it to the yay-sayers last night as they laid bare their retained dreadfulness in a 2-0 defeat to West Ham.

Steve McClaren’s Magpies had been accused of improvement, with many hopefuls pointing to a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford as evidence of a new-found competence.

Such notions were put to the sword in trademark Newcastle fashion, capitulating dismally away from home on a Monday night.

News of their continuing ineptitude is sure to be a source of great amusement to those for whom Newcastle have become a sort of 2nd favourite club, like Sky Sports used to harp on about in the ’90s except for comedy reasons rather than exciting attacking football.

McClaren’s misery was compounded when someone remembered that he’d faced West Ham’s new manager in a couple of Euro qualifiers several years ago and came well and truly a cropper on both occasions.

Speaking exclusively to Football Burp, McClaren remained philosophical.

He roared: “I’d forgotten I used to manage England, that’s a blast from the past.

“Was I the one who hired Eileen Drewery? No? Good.”