Newcastle v West Brom preview: Can Darren Moore step up to another test and delay relegation again?

But we have now reached the point when anything but victory will confirm the inevitable, regardless of what happens elsewhere.

Relegation was accepted by the club, the fans, and the players a while ago – and perhaps too soon from those in charge.

Darren Moore has somehow managed to lift the lid of the closed coffin ever so slightly, but unless the Baggies beat an in-form Newcastle side tomorrow, that final nail will be hammered home.

Gone will be that tiny nagging feeling at the back of the mind that maybe Moore could be a miracle-worker, that maybe Albion could throw up an unforgettable story at the end of a forgettable season.

Nobody expected them to keep their noses above water this long, but his unbeaten start to life as caretaker boss has delayed the drop.

The reality is, even if Albion win this, they still need to beat Tottenham and Crystal Palace and rely on Swansea getting nothing from games with Chelsea, Bournemouth, Stoke and Southampton.

It’s too little, too late, but that doesn’t mean Moore's impact should be downplayed. Moreover, he has retained his humility throughout and praised the collective effort.

“When we’ve come together in the last couple of weeks, there’s been a togetherness,” said Moore.

“We’ve asked for everybody to continue doing their bit and they’ve done that. That instantly lifts the spirits.

“Obviously the results lift it again, the media attention on the results, staff members read it. So it’s a feel good factor.

“Hopefully the last couple of weeks have lifted the mood around the club and the community.

“I’m here as a caretaker, so I’m just speaking the words. It’s going on around me in the football club.

“The team is getting results, we’re doing it by being together, everyone coming together in their own individual departments.

“Everybody at West Brom is valued, in whatever department they’re in. That’s the players, the staff, the supporters, those behind the scenes you wouldn’t think about it.

"Everybody’s speculating what it is, it’s just everyone working together and believing in each other.”

There’s no question his unifying character has helped breed a positive atmosphere both on the training ground and in the stadium.

But his leadership skills will be put to the test again this weekend.

Club captain Jonny Evans is now fit following his substitute appearance last time out, and Liverpool loanee Daniel Sturridge is available.

The starting XI that have done well in the last three games deserve to be retained, but that would involve leaving two high-profile players on the bench.

One of Alan Pardew’s mistakes was keeping faith in his senior stars when others were more deserving, and Moore needs to show more strength than that.

Even though Evans and Sturridge are two of the most gifted players in the squad, and have, by all accounts, been performing well in training, they are unlikely to be at the club next year.

However, Moore has proven in recent weeks that what matters most is putting the right team out to win the game. Ultimately, any decision will be vindicated if it works.

Evans may have been booed by some home fans last weekend but he did give Albion extra height in the box in the last 20 minutes and that paid off.

So far the caretaker boss has got his decisions spot on, and perhaps more intriguing than whether Albion go down or not this weekend will be his response to another test in the Premier League.

Newcastle dangerman - Kenedy

The Brazilian has sparkled for Newcastle since joining on loan from Chelsea in January. He already has two goals and two assists to his name, and has helped give Rafa Benitez’s team an outlet on the wing and a balance in midfield. Finally realising his potential at the age of 22, he’s relishing the shot at first team football.

Albion key man - Jake Livermore

The central midfielders has improved in recent weeks, and notched his first Albion goal last weekend. He's been getting further up the pitch and Jonjo Shelvey is Newcastle's deep-lying playmaker. If Livermore can close him down and make his life hard, he can stop the Magpies at source.

Likely line-ups

Newcastle United (4-4-1-1): Dúbravka; Yedlin, Lascelles, Lejeune, Dummett; Ritchie, Diamé, Shelvey, Kenedy; Pérez; Slimani.

Substitutes: Darlow, Manquillo, Clark, Hayden, Merino, Murphy, Gayle.

Albion (4-4-1-1): Foster; Nyom, Dawson, Hegazi, Gibbs; Phillips, Brunt, Livermore, McClean; Rodriguez, Rondon.

Substitutes: Myhill, Evans, Yacob, Field, Krychowiak, Burke, Sturridge.