Albion will throw their support behind Newcastle as the Magpies look to strike another blow for the Baggies’ promotion campaign.

The Championship leaders take on third-placed Nottingham Forest at St James’ Park tonight, knowing victory would move them within six points of promotion.

Albion’s players will be firmly backing Chris Hughton’s men to win, even though it would damage the Baggies’ chances of chasing the Toon down for the Championship title.

A Newcastle victory would preserve Albion’s nine-point cushion over Forest and leave Roberto Di Matteo’s men needing just 10 points from their last six matches to guarantee promotion.

Baggies midfielder James Morrison said: “Most people will see it as a big game and it’s definitely a big game for us.

“Forest are nine points behind us now and we don’t want them any closer, so I think a few of the lads will be sitting down in front of their televisions and cheering on Newcastle.

“I think most people would like to go up as champions because we’ve experienced it once, but if we go up in second place it’s still a great achievement. After getting relegated it’s not always easy to bounce straight back up.

“We just need to get that ‘P’ for promotion next to our name in the league table and then concentrate on pushing Newcastle all the way.”

Victory would take Newcastle four points clear of Albion and the Magpies will still have another game in hand on both their pursuers.

But players at the Hawthorns insist they have no mixed feelings about this evening’s match.

A Newcastle win would effectively need the Baggies needing just nine points from their last six fixtures to make sure of a top-two finish, because of their superior goal difference advantage to Forest.

Captain Scott Carson said: “Our aim first and foremost is to get promoted. We would like to be champions but first we need to get over that line and we don’t want to leave it to the last couple of games.

“We would like a Newcastle win, but Forest came to our place and won and definitely deserved the points so it’s by no means going to be an easy win for Newcastle.

“It’s going to be a really difficult game.”