Premier League: West Brom v Newcastle match preview

A look ahead to this weekend's Premier League fixture at the Hawthorns

West Brom manager Steve Clarke (GETTY IMAGES)

Newcastle will arrive in the Midlands still searching for the win that would alleviate any lingering relegation fears as the relegation battle gets more frenetic.

After going out of the Europa League, a competition that has stymied their progress in the Premier league this season, Newcastle have failed to escape the relegation mire, a 0-3 loss to Sunderland in their last game putting them just above the five teams that are candidates for the drop this season.

An under the radar West Brom, sitting comfortably in the top ten as they have done all season, will want to finish their campaign as strongly as they started. The Baggies have been becalmed of late, taking only three wins from their last 15 games.

KICK-OFF:Saturday, 3pm

PAST THREE MEETINGS…

Newcastle 2 (Ba, Cisse) West Brom 1 (Lukaku) Premier League, October 2012

West Brom 1 (Long) Newcastle 3 (Cisse 2, Ben Arfa) Premier League, March 2012

Newcastle 2 (Ba 2) West Brom 3 (Odemwingie, McAuley, Scharner) Premier League ,December 2011

STATS…

West Brom and Newcastle have played 116 times in all competitions. The Baggies shading the contest, winning 43 games to the Toon’s 42, with 31 draws.

The highest scoring fixture between the two sides featured ten goals; a 3-7 win for West Brom in 1953 in the old first division.

If all Premier League games ended at half time throughout the season both teams would be better off, West Brom would have one point more and be one place higher, and Newcastle would be two points better off and be in eleventh place.

Papiss Cisse has had 75 shots this season in the Premier League, scoring only eight goals.

ODDS…

West Brom to win: 2.32

Newcastle to win: 3.45

Draw: 3.45

TV: Highlights on BBC1 at 10.30pm