Intro:

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce said on Friday (22nd May) that he wants to win the match against Newcastle United (Sunday) for Steve Bruce. Allardyce also defended opposing manager John Carver, rather pointing blame at the Newcastle players.

Script:

SOUNDBITE: (English) Sam Allardyce, West Ham manager (Q: Hull fans will be keeping an eye on this game?)

"Not only Hull fans, my big mate Steve Bruce. If he wants anybody to win, he'll want me to win, but he's got to win himself, that's the most important thing for Steve and then hopefully if he does win against Manchester United, then we've taken the points off Newcastle. But there will always be twists and turns throughout the game, one way or the other.

SOUNDBITE: (English) Sam Allardyce, West Ham manager (Q: Have you been surprised by Newcastle this season?)

"Wins can boost their confidence, when you've got a couple of defeats it can destroy the confidence of the players and then as a manager the tough side of the game comes into you - trying to restore or maintain that confidence in the players that you know what they're capable of. So that's been a hugely difficult task for John (Carver) since he took over. Great guy, Newcastle through and through, loves the football club from top to bottom and the players haven't quite done what they should have done for him, what they should have done for themselves and the club. But, you know, that happens, surprises happen at this level, that's why it's the best league in the world and you can never look at anybody and say nobody is capable of being relegated this year, apart from the top boys, we can all be vulnerable at some stages."