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Newcastle United manager Steve McClaren revealed that the Barclays Premier League turned down their request to delay their game with West Ham by 15 minutes after the team coach became stuck in traffic.

Congestion in London’s east end meant the Newcastle coach didn’t reach Upton Park and the players were forced to disembark and walk the last mile.

They ultimately ran out to complete their warm-up at 7.35pm, just 25 minutes before the scheduled kick-off. But the Premier League turned down the club’s requests to put back the start.

Steve McClaren had his request to delay Newcastle United's game with West Ham by 15 minutes rejected

Newcastle ran out to complete their warm-up at 7.35pm - just 25 minutes before kick-off at Upton Park

McClaren said: ‘We felt that the preparation wasn’t long enough and we asked the referee [to delay the kick-off].

‘From my experience in football it is usually permitted but it wasn’t and we had to deal with that. It was the Premier League’s call.’

And Newcastle were caught cold when Dimitri Payet fired West Ham into a ninth-minute lead. He added a second three minutes into the second period to fire the Hammers up to fifth in the table and leave Newcastle marooned at the bottom.

McClaren added on Sky Sports: ‘We said before "deal with it" but maybe we didn't deal with it. It is a wake up call for everyone. In this Premier League you need to be one hundred per cent and if you aren't you get beat. I don't want to make excuses but the journey wasn't the best preparation.’

His opposite number Slaven Bilic, who celebrated a first home win in charge, said Newcastle’s late arrival didn’t alter their approach.

Newcastle manager McClaren wanted kick-off to be put back by 15 minutes after they arrived late

West Ham won comfortably at Upton Park as they beat Newcastle 2-0 in the Premier League tie

He said: ‘They were late and we were expecting the game to be put back 15 minutes or whatever. 

'I think they had enough time. Well, I don’t know to be fair but we didn’t say "go at them from the start" [just because they were late].

‘We would have said that if they had a night at Upton Park last night. It would have been the same plan.’