Albion pegged back with Pardew waiting in wings
Alan Pardew will be confirmed as the new head coach of West Bromwich Albion today, charged with lifting a club who have gone 13 games without a win.
Pardew is making his return to the Premier League after an 11-month exile, inheriting a team who have been invigorated by interim manager Gary Megson.
Pardew will be unveiled after quickly emerging as the leading contender to succeed Tony Pulis, as revealed by The Daily Telegraph.
The 56-year-old was not at the Hawthorns for the visit of Newcastle and will take training for the first time tomorrow. His new squad are perched only two points above the relegation zone after losing a twogoal lead.
It was Pardew’s old club, Newcastle, who were feeling the more satisfied with this result after finally breaking an alarming run of defeats, the decisive moment coming from Matt Ritchie’s deflected freekick seven minutes from time.
Newcastle were heading for a fifth successive loss after Albion coasted into a two-goal lead, but Rafael Benitez’s players demonstrated some previously absent fighting qualities to rescue a point.
“We didn’t deserve to lose the four games. But with this bad run, to react the way we did at 2-0 down is very positive for the future,” said the Newcastle manager.
“I’m disappointed and pleased at the same time. The reaction of the team was really good. The players showed again that they care. As soon as we scored the first goal we were back in the game.
“The character they showed was very positive. The way we played in the last minutes was much better. We can improve and we have to improve, but you could see character, commitment and some good play.”
Megson’s own future remains unclear, despite his achievements in steadying the ship after the dismissal of Pulis last week.
It could have been an emotional farewell for the former Albion manager, who remains a popular figure in these parts after reviving the club at the turn of the century.
The feelgood factor was further enhanced by a first career goal from academy product Sam Field, in front of the biggest crowd of the season.
However, Newcastle’s late fightback ensured a frustrating evening for Megson, denying him a first win in the top division since December 2009.
Megson said: “I am meeting the chairman and that’s the only thing I can say for definite. He didn’t say why, but I wouldn’t expect him to, that’s the club’s business.
“It’s a feeling of disappointment because we were 2-0 up. We scored two really good, well-worked goals, we are supposed to be a big side at set-pieces but we conceded awful goals. We have to pick ourselves and go again. It’s a kick in the wotsits.”
This was Megson’s first game in charge at the Hawthorns since October 2004 and a reminder that he deserves a job in management.
He had been out of the game for five years before agreeing to return as Pulis’s assistant in the summer, but his work over the past week has impressed both staff and players. Albion started brightly, with Salomon Rondon clipping the crossbar from 35 yards, and took the lead on the stroke of half-time after a period of sustained pressure.
It was an excellent goal, too, with Kieran Gibbs producing a fine touch from Jonny Evans’ long pass to advance into the area and cross for Hal Robson-kanu, who headed home.
Benitez was furious, hurling his coat to the floor from the dug-out. His frustration increased in the 56th minute, as Albion extended their lead after another fine attack. Matt Phillips bent in a wonderful cross from the right and Field, the 19-year-old local lad, volleyed the ball into the net at the far post.
Game over? Not so. Newcastle responded swiftly, with defender Ciaran Clark eluding Jonny Evans
to head in Matt Ritchie’s corner. It was a poor goal to concede and suddenly Newcastle sniffed blood and a much-needed point.
They were now dominant and the equaliser was inevitable. James Mcclean, a substitute, gave away a needless free-kick for a foul on Deandre Yedlin and Ritchie’s freekick deflected off Evans to give Foster no chance.
Newcastle will now head Stamford Bridge this weekend having received an injection of confidence, while Pardew faces another former club, Crystal Palace.