Toon 0 WBA 1

Last updated : 30 April 2018 By Footy Mad - Editor

NEWCASTLE 0 WEST BROM 1

Dubravka, Yedlin, Lascelles, Lejeune, Dummett (Murphy 58) Ritchie, Shelvey, Kenedy, Perez (Joselu 78), Gayle (Slimani 65)
Subs: Darlow, Manquillo, Clark, Hayden

West Brom just needed one goal to see off Newcastle on Saturday, with Matt Phillips smashing in a 29th-minute strike after being picked out by Jake Livermore.

Image result for Newcastle 0 West Brom 1But it was a very poor performance from Rafa's boys, and thank God our future was decided long before this match.

James McClean and Jay Rodriguez also went close for the Baggies, while their keeper Ben Foster made a sensational save to keep out Dwight Gayle's header.

The Magpies were also denied by the post after Kenedy had beaten Foster with a poked shot.

Former defender Darren Moore was centre-back for the Baggies for five years between 2001 and 2006

Although footballing miracles are possible - remember Leicester's title win in 2015-16? - the Baggies remain strong favourites to go down.

At least Moore - loved by the fans and, seemingly, the players - has injected the team with some belief, which was sorely missing under the stewardship of former managers Tony Pulis and Alan Pardew.

At St James' Park, the Baggies showed the sort of gutsy performance Newcastle had shown in recent weeks. However, with safety assured, Newcastle's levels have dropped and the Baggies took advantage.

They went ahead just before the half-hour mark as Phillips, who was brilliant on the wing, rifled the ball past Martin Dubravka.

Had striker Salomon Rondon been at his sharpest, West Brom might have added to their lead, while Rodriguez forced a good low save from the Newcastle keeper.

The Baggies defence was barely tested, with Newcastle's attack lacking bite.

England hopeful Jonjo Shelvey produced an underwhelming display.

Newcastle appear to have switched off since securing their Premier League status - defeat on Saturday was the first time they had suffered back-to-back losses in 2018.

The influential Jonjo Shelvey, Matt Ritchie and Kenedy were all off their game, although the latter went closest for the home side when his shot came off the foot of the post in the first half.

Substitute Joselu, who has failed to make an impact since arriving on Tyneside in the summer, should have earned Newcastle a late equaliser but inexplicably headed wide from six yards.

West Brom caretaker boss Darren Moore: "We did everything that was asked of us. We came to a tough arena, against a good team, and we needed to perform well to come away with a result.

"I was pleased with the result, it was a good, solid performance. We could have scored more goals, we had plenty of chances, and after we scored our defence was resolute too.

"We're just continuing to look forward to the next game now, we'll enjoy today, and look forward."