DOWN..BUT NOT OUT

Pards: Let me stay and I’ll bring Baggies back up if we drop

Martin Goodman following the club’s plummet to the bottom.

But Pardew himself has avoided a P45 and is set to remain in charge for Saturday’s crunch trip to Watford despite five successive defeats. And there are no signs of the ex-west Ham, Newcastle and Crystal Palace boss throwing in the towel with a contract until 2020.

He has not given up hope of beating the drop but has stressed to Jenkins in the event of relegation that he has been promoted from the Championship previously with West Ham in 2005.

In a bid to keep Albion up, Pardew has been trying to get them to be more positive. But the Baggies have been struggling since finishing last season on a dire run of one win in 12 games since last March.

This term under Pulis they then won just two League games before the Welshman was axed in November as the team struggled for creativity and goals.

Successor Pardew has not been helped by a hamstring injury to loan striker Daniel Sturridge. It is the latest problem to dog his brief reign, including four senior stars breaking a curfew and allegedly stealing a taxi while on a training camp in Barcelona.

The side’s most recent showing was a 2–1 loss at home to Huddersfield when Pardew was taunted with “sacked in the morning” chants from home fans.

Albion stalwart Chris Brunt, (below) who impressed off the bench, criticised team-mates and Pardew later in the dressing room.

But the highlight of Pardew’s reign was a 3-2 win at Liverpool in the FA Cup in January. Albion played 3-5-2 in the game and Brunt, who has assisted four of the club’s last six goals, starred.

Pardew is expected to return to a similar shape and line-up at Watford with a recall for Brunt. Albion’s struggling stars can all expect 50 percent wage cuts in the event of relegation.

They beat the drop in 2004/2005 when famously bottom at Christmas but then talisman Kevin Campbell said: “Unfortunately they’re doomed.”