Pardew ready to take his seat

ALAN PARDEW is expected to be in the stands at West Brom tonight ahead of being unveiled as their new manager.

Caretaker boss Gary Megson will be in charge for his second and final game against Pardew’s former club Newcastle.

Then it is just a matter of when, not if, the club’s Chinese owners announce that Pardew is their man to succeed the sacked Tony Pulis.

“It’s still nothing to do with me,” said Megson. “They’ll make their mind up on who they want. Whether it’s good, bad or indifferent that’s incumbent on the board, not myself.

“I’m just doing this job for a long as I’m told. I’m sure they’ll take their time and get the person they want. I’m an experienced manager and I know how to deal with this type of thing so that’s what we’re doing.”

Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez, however, fears his club could be sucked into a relegation scrap unless there is major investment.

The Spaniard is already enduring his worst run in English football after Watford inflicted a fourth successive defeat on his struggling side.

With a trip to Chelsea on Saturday, Benitez knows if Newcastle lose against West Brom at the Hawthorns tonight, they could soon be in the drop zone.

Misfiring striker Joselu has been targeted for his lack of goals, while DeAndre Yedlin came in for criticism for his performance in the 3-0 home defeat by Watford.

“To criticise players is not fair because they are giving everything,” said Benitez.

“If we make the mistake of criticising all the time, they will go into the next game more anxious and nervous.”