Law of the ex

Ahead of the visit of West Ham United to Newcastle United, the pundits invariably give an extra edge to the Hammers because Sam Allardyce seeks (further) revenge for being sacked (justifiably, because with the same squad and more forward-focused play, Kevin Keegan’s second stint as manager, achieved more clean sheets in fewer games than afforded Allardyce).  No-one seems aware that Alan Pardew himself might be extra keen to extract more pain from his former employers after he was unceremoniously evicted mid-season by West Ham’s then owners.