Newcastle United 2 West Brom 1 - Report

In what was a dreadful first-half from Slaven Bilic’s side, the Baggies fell behind after just 23 seconds when some poor defending allowed Miguel Almiron to fire in.

The hosts should have gone in at the break 2-0 up but Joelinton took the bizarre decision to go for goal himself instead of squaring for an unmarked Callum Wilson who would have had a tap-in.

The Baggies emerged the break a different side and got back on terms thanks to a wonderful finish from Darnell Furlong.

But while they went on to see a lot more of the ball they struggled to create clear-cut chances.

And that led to two former Baggies conspiring to give Newcastle the win.

It was ex-loanee Jacob Murphy who got the assist with the winger whipping in a wonderfully inviting cross.

And there waiting to head it home was Dwight Gayle - who was so prolific for the Baggies while on loan at The Hawthorns in the 2018/19 season.

The result will see the pressure increase on Bilic with the Baggies having now lost eight of their 12 games since returning to the Premier League with their only win coming against rock-bottom Sheffield United.

Report

Bilic opted to make three changes from the team that fell to defeat against Crystal Palace when naming his starting XI.

With Matheus Pereira serving a three match ban following his controversial red card in that game, Filip Krovinovic came back into the side with the boss sticking with a 3-5-2 formation.

The Croatain joined Romaine Sawyers and Conor Gallagher in midfield with Darnell Furlong at right wing-back and Matt Phillips continuing on the left.

Up front, Karlan Grant was partnered by Callum Robinson who got the nod at the expense of Grady Diangana.

At the back, Dara O’Shea replaced Kyle Bartley who was absent from the matchday 18.

For Newcastle, all the talk in the week leading up to the game had been that Steve Bruce’s side had been left ravaged by coronavirus.

But while they were missing some key players, they were still able to name a strong line-up at St James’ Park.

It was in defence where they appeared hardest hit with centre-backs Fabian Schär, Federico Fernández and Jamaal Lascelles all missing.

That meant midfielder Isaac Hayden had to play alongside Ciaran Clark at the heart of the defence.

Going forward, though, the hosts still looked strong with Matt Ritchie and Miguel Almiron on the wings and Callum Wilson and Joelinton up front in a 4-4-2 formation.

In what proved to be a truly disastrous start, Albion found themselves a goal down after just 23 seconds.

Despite it being the Baggies who kicked off, Newcastle won possession and pumped the ball forward towards Wilson who brushed off Branislav Ivanovic as if he wasn’t there.

And that effectively left Albion wide open with the ball worked to Almiron in the box who then emphatically fired past Sam Johnstone.

The Baggies could have been 2-0 down after 10 minutes with Almiron again entering the area only to see a low effort saved by Johnstone.

After that frantic start, the game settled down with both teams having spells with the ball without creating much.

Gradually, though, Newcastle started to exert more dominance. And they really should have doubled their advantage just past the half-hour mark.

Joelinton entered the box before tricking his way past Ivanovic where he looked destined to square for an unmarked Wilson who would have had a tap-in.

But instead, the Brazilian - from a tight angle - went for goal himself with Johnstone keeping out his low drive at this near post.

Overall, Albion had looked disjoined. But with Sawyers and Gallagher trying to make things happen in the middle of the park, they finally had a spell of pressure just before the interval.

And they should have got themselves back on terms when Newcastle only half-cleared a Matt Phillips cross, with the delivery falling for Gallagher.

But from 12-yards, the midfielder side-footed wide when he really should have scored.

Clearly unhappy with what he had seen, Bilic made a double change at the break with Kieran Gibbs and Charlie Austin replacing Robinson and Grant.

It was a move that saw Austin and Phillips play up front with the Baggies remaining in the 3-5-2 system.

And it paid instant dividends with Bilic’s men pulling level in the 50th minute.

It was Phillips who got the assist with the 29-year-old sending in a deep cross to the back post.

And there running it to meet it was Furlong who, dispute stretching, connected with the ball perfectly to fire past Karl Darlow and into the net.

Albion were now a side transformed with the Baggies suddenly getting bodies into the box a lot quicker.

But while Gallagher saw a shot saved from distance and almost slipped in Austin, Bilic’s men were struggling to create clear-cut chances despite their good play.

That prompted Bruce to switch Dwight Gayle for Jamal Lewis in a move that saw the hosts move to a 4-3-3 system.

And they almost got their noses in front a few minutes later when Gayle met a corner only to see his header cleared off the line by Phillips.

In the 82nd minute, though, Gayle did break Albion’s hearts.

Another former Baggie loanee also did the damage with fellow sub Jacob Murphy sending in a wonderfully inviting cross from deep.

But while that cross was good, Gayle’s header was even better with the striker planting a header against the underside of the bar and into the top corner.

While Bilic’s side had undoubtedly improved after the interval, they had created little in the way of clear goal scoring opportunities.

And that meant that another opportunity to win a Premier League game passed them by with Newcastle comfortably seeing out the closing stages to claim the points.

Teams

Newcastle (4-4-2): Darlow, Krafth (Murphy 80), Clarke, Hayden, Lewis (Gayle 69), Almiron (Yedlin 86), S. Longstaff, Shelvey, Ritchie, Joelinton, Wilson.

Subs not used: Langley, M. Longstaff, Hendrick, Carroll.

Albion (3-5-2): Johnstone, Furlong, Ajayi, Ivanovic, O’Shea, Phillips, Sawyers, Gallagher (Grosicki 80), Krovinovic, Robinson (Gibbs 46), Grant (Austin 46).

Subs not used: Button, Kipre, Livermore, Diangana.