SECRET SCOUT STRIKES AGAIN!
Megson gives new boss helping hand
Gary Megson nearly provided alan Pardew with a welcome gift of three points, but newcastle staged a late comeback last night to avoid defeat for the first time in five matches.
West Bromwich appeared to be home and dry at 2-0 before giving it away. James McClean was culpable, coming on as a substitute and needlessly fouling Deandre yedlin to the right of the penalty area.
Matt ritchie hit the resulting free-kick hard and fast but that was no excuse for salomon rondon to fling out a lazy leg and divert the ball into his own net via Jonny evans.
Megson, so close to leading West Brom to a first win since august, looked on in despair. This was nearly a feelgood farewell for a popular figure. ‘We are supposed to be a big side at set- pieces but we conceded awful goals,’ he said.
He will step aside for Pardew, who has agreed to take over and will be confirmed as Tony Pulis’s successor today.
His first job, beginning with the visit of former club Crystal Palace on saturday, will be to address West Brom’s inability to hold on to an advantage. This was the fifth occasion they have led in the 75th minute this season, only to end up drawing.
For rafa Benitez, the point provided solace after a bleak few weeks. The newcastle manager had warned things could get worse before they got better and it was heading that way for most of last night.
But newcastle sparked into life late on, providing the spaniard with cause for optimism in the battle against the drop. West Brom stay in deeper relegation trouble, just two points above 18th-placed West Ham having played a game more. Pardew was not in the stands as the club gave Megson space to sign off without that distraction. He has relished being the main man in the dugout for the first time in five years. Megson guided West Brom to two promotions in the early 2000s and his name was sung from the first minute by the hardcore fans of the smethwick end. rondon nearly gave the hosts an early lead with a 35yard shot that had Karl Darlow beaten but dropped on to the top of the bar. ahmed Hegazi’s cross seven minutes before the interval gave Hal robson-Kanu an opening but his header was tame and Darlow held on. robson-Kanu had an even better chance when set up three yards out by rondon, but shot wide.
on the stroke of half-time, robson-Kanu made it third time lucky. evans hit a peach of a pass out to Kieran gibbs and yedlin was caught out as the West Brom left back pitched a perfect cross into the middle, enabling robson-Kanu to rise above Chancel Mbemba and head in.
Benitez was furious, flinging his coat down, and the Toon manager was still chuntering as he strode down the tunnel.
In the 56th minute, Benitez was wearing a face of thunder again as West Brom doubled their lead. Matt Phillips collected rondon’s lay- off and whipped a glorious cross to the far post, where sam Field arrived to volley past Darlow.
It was the 19-year-old’s first senior goal and he celebrated joyously as the home fans sang, ‘He’s one of our own!’
Three minutes later, newcastle got back into the contest with a simple goal. ritchie delivered a corner and Ciaran Clark ran free to head in.
The unfortunate evans then turned the ball into his own net and newcastle had a point to savour for the first time in five weeks. Benitez said: ‘The players showed they care. With this bad run, reacting the way they did when 2-0 down is very positive for the future.’