Paul Merson gave Newcastle United 'no chance' of earning a result at West Ham following the late absence of Allan Saint-Maximin.
The Magpies' number 10 joined Javier Manquillo, Kieran Trippier and Callum Wilson on the sidelines as Eddie Howe's side earned a 1-1 draw on Saturday to stretch their unbeaten Premier League run to six matches.
Newcastle arrived at the London Stadium on the back of three straight wins, and Joe Willock's clever finish just before the break maintained the four-point cushion to the relegation zone.
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Previewing the contest on Sky Sports' 'Soccer Saturday', former Arsenal midfielder Merson praised United for their 'phenomenal' recent run of form.
However, Saint-Maximin's injury led the pundit to write-off Newcastle's prospects against the Hammers in a prediction that was inevitably revisited by supporters following the full-time whistle.
Merson told Sky Sports: "No, I don't give them any chance today if I'm being honest.
"I just think Saint-Maximin is a game-changer. He takes the ball up the pitch, it's a dream for a defender to take you up the pitch to give the defence a rest because they'll be busy.
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"I don't give them a chance, but don't get me wrong they have done great. Three wins on the trot, I don't care where you are in the league, to get three wins unless you're City or Liverpool, bar that what they've done is absolutely phenomenal.
"They've got that little gap of four points, if he is going to miss one game, let this be the game. These are not the games that are going to keep you up.
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