Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Premier League meeting between Newcastle United and West Bromwich Albion at St James' Park. Despite an improvement in form that has seen them go three games without defeat, anything less than victory for the visitors today will confirm their demotion to the Championship after an eight-season stay.

Relegation fears are a thing of the past for Newcastle, meanwhile, as a recent four-match winning run now has them battling for a top-half finish in the final two weeks. Defeat to Everton earlier this week ending that impressive streak, but they remain three points better off than Bournemouth directly behind them and are well positioned to finish 10th.

NEWCASTLE UNITED TEAM NEWS!

STARTING XI: Dubravka; Yedlin, Lascelles, Lejeune, Dummett; Ritchie, Shelvey, Diame, Kenedy; Perez; Gayle

SUBS: Darlow, Clark, Manquillo, Hayden, Murphy, Slimani, Joselu

Starting with a look at the home team, Rafael Benitez has made one change on the back of the 1-0 defeat to Everton five days ago. Islam Slimani is made to wait for his first home start since arriving at the club on loan from Leicester City in January, as he drops down to the bench this afternoon. Dwight Gayle instead returns up top, with support provided by Ayoze Perez from attacking midfield.

Perez was unable to make much of an impact in that pretty disappointing match at Goodison Park earlier in the week, but he has three goals and three assists in his last four outings and has managed to build up a decent understanding with Gayle. Despite that one change, the shape will remain the same as far as United are concerned as they go with four across the middle and four across the back.

Much has been made of Jonjo Shelvey's performances of late, seeing him touted with an England wildcard spot for this summer's World Cup, and Mohamed Diame has also looked solid alongside him. There is no doubt that the mid-season arrival of Kenedy has bolstered United in an attacking sense, while Matt Ritchie has also added goals to his game down the other flank. No Christian Atsu for the Magpies, however - he remains out with a knee injury.

WEST BROMWICH ALBION TEAM NEWS!

STARTING XI: Foster; Nyom, Dawson, Hegazi, Gibbs; Phillips, Livermore, Brunt, McClean; Rodriguez; Rondon

SUBS: Myhill, Evans, Yacob, Krychowiak, Burke, Robson-Kanu, Sturridge

West Brom, showing no changes from their 2-2 draw with Liverpool last weekend, are expected to line up in an identical manner to their opponents. Salomon Rondon will start as the most advanced player, just ahead of Jay Rodriguez, while Matty Phillips and James McClean are selected in the wide positions in what is a 4-4-1-1 formation. Still no Jonny Evans for the visitors - he is kept in reserve with his future in doubt.

Rodriguez has scored three goals in his last five outings and was named Man of the Match in two of those. The Englishman is enjoying his slightly deeper role in the side, meaning that Daniel Sturridge is deemed only worthy of a place on the bench for the division's worst side. Sturridge, it is fair to say, has seen his career badly stagnate, having made four loan appearances for Albion and failed to get off the mark.

Nacer Chadli had been pushing for a recall today following a four-month spell on the sidelines, but the Belgium international - one of those almost certain to leave if and when West Brom go down - is still nowhere to be seen. A key feature of this Albion side is their ability to cause panic from set-piece deliveries, with Chris Brunt one of the finest crossers of the ball.

Dwight Gayle is restored to Newcastle United's starting lineup this afternoon in place of Islam Slimani, who drops down to the bench - not sure the Magpies got value for money with that loan signing! West Bromwich Albion once again remain unchanged, meanwhile, sticking with the XI that picked up four points from games against Manchester United and Liverpool.

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Newcastle head into this match sitting 10th in the Premier League table, three points in front of Bournemouth - who have played a game more - and three behind Leicester City. Not so long ago the Magpies feared an immediate return to the second tier; fast forward a month or so and their biggest fear now is dropping out of the top half in the remaining couple of weeks of the season.

Fighting for a top-half finish is hardly the most exciting prospect, but it certainly beats a relegation scrap - just ask West Brom supporters! The Magpies' four-match winning run came to an end last time out at Everton, effectively killing off their season as they are now marooned between ninth and 11th. That could change over the course of the weekend, though for now they are sitting comfortably in 10th.

That would be a huge achievement in its own right, of course, particularly with Rafael Benitez having one hand tied behind his back all season long. The Spaniard revealed this week that he has opened talks with the Magpies over penning a new contract, and that really would be fantastic news for supporters heading into the summer transfer window. Whether Benitez is given funds to spend, though, is another question.

Signing a new deal would certainly suggest that there is money there to be spent, with Benitez saving the club around £100m by keeping them away from the relegation zone. It would also mark the first time since 2013 that a promoted side has finished in the top half of the Premier League, in a season that looks certain to end with last season's Championship teams all avoiding the drop - quite some achievement.

One win in seven had left United in serious trouble but, since going down 3-0 to Liverpool on March 3, they have defeated Southampton, Huddersfield Town, Leicester City and Arsenal, prior to that 1-0 loss at Everton last time out. Newcastle still have a trip to Wembley to face Tottenham Hotspur, as well as welcoming Chelsea here, so maximum points today will be important if they are to finish in 10th.

Newcastle have conceded just 13 goals so far in 2018 - only Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United, with 10 and 11 respectively - have a better defensive record since the turn of the year. Equally as impressive, though, is the fact that Benitez has managed to get some goals out of his players at the other end of the field, scoring 10 in their last seven matches, even accounting for the blank at Goodison Park on Monday.

Benitez's men are also unbeaten in their last seven home Premier League matches since that memorable 1-0 loss to Manchester City here just after Christmas. "Memorable" in a sense that they ceded possession a little too willingly at a time when their position was not quite as stable as it is now. That match was a long time ago, however, and they are now 12 points above the dropzone.

They have won four and drawn three of their seven home matches since then, including victories over Manchester United and most recently Arsenal. It says a lot about their turnaround that they have yet to lose back-to-back matches in 2018, leaving them towards the top of the overall form chart. The challenge for Benitez now, with two weeks of the season to go, is to simply finish as high as possible.

DID YOU KNOW? Rafael Benitez has won seven of his previous eight meetings with West Bromwich Albion - drawing the other match in that sequence - including all four home matches without conceding. Another good omen is the form of Matt Ritchie, who has scored in three of his last four Premier League games following a failure to net in the previous 12.

Rafael Benitez, who has had a hand tied behind his back this term due to the club's reluctance to spend, deserves huge credit for guiding Newcastle United into the top half. The Magpies can now look forward to another campaign of Premier League football, and even better news could follow as Benitez suggested this week that he is ready to sign a new contract.

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West Brom sit rock bottom of the Premier League, eight points from safety with nine left to play for. After eight seasons in the top flight their time appears to be coming to an end, even if results have been a lot more positive since Darren Moore stepped up to replace Alan Pardew. The bottom line is simple - Albion must win at St James' Park today and hope that Chelsea help them out against Swansea City a little later.

RESULT! Stoke City have held Liverpool to a goalless draw at Anfield. Much like the 2-2 draw at The Hawthorns last weekend, that is a result that does not help either side a great deal - the Potters really needed all three from that one. What it does mean, though, is that West Brom can move to within two points of Stoke if they win this game in hand.

The Baggies have somehow managed to hang on, despite a tough fixture list to see out the season. A 1-1 draw with Swansea pushed them closer to the drop a few weeks back, but they have since pulled off the biggest shock of the season by beating Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford, before battling back from two goals down to hold Liverpool to a 2-2 draw. Had this run started a month earlier, the great escape would have been on.

Last weekend's performance against Liverpool was impressive, and even at two goals down they never looked at risk of being blown away. Goals from Jake Livermore and Salomon Rondon salvaged a point which, combined with other results last weekend, means that Albion retained their top-flight status for another week. It would not be all that surprising if they held on for seven more days, too, as this is what you would call a winnable fixture.

The formula is now a little more straightforward, though - fail to win today and that is it, regardless of Swansea's result against Chelsea in the evening kickoff. Albion also have fellow strugglers Crystal Palace to face on the final day, as well as the visit of Tottenham Hotspur in a week's time - nine points from nine is a major ask. If they do go down, it will be their 10th demotion from the top tier of English football.

Only Birmingham City (12) and Leicester City (11) have been relegated from the top flight more times. Moore does deserve huge praise for prolonging their top-flight status for this long, though, taking five points from his three matches in charge - two of those against members of the top four. That, by comparison, is one more point that Pardew accrued in his final 11 matches at the helm.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS! Newcastle United have lost just one of their last 15 league games against West Bromwich Albion, collecting 34 points from a possible 45 during that run. The Baggies' only victory at St James' Park since 1977, in fact, was by a 3-2 scoreline in 2011 - they have since lost three and drawn one.

With kickoff now less than five minutes away at St James' Park, let us check out some pre-match thoughts from both camps.

Rafael Benitez: "We have had conversations [over a new contract] and we will have conversations next week. My representatives are talking with [managing director] Lee Charnley and that's it. I will not say anything else about that because I want to concentrate on football and the game."

Darren Moore: "Recent results have been good because there has been a collective effort from everyone at the football club. We need that to continue. I love the coaching. I'm fulfilling a dream of mine to coach at the highest level. I'm getting job satisfaction."

Albion, it must be remembered, have won just four matches all season - they now need three from their next three. Two of those came in the opening fortnight of the season, and they have just 10 away points to their name - only Stoke City have fewer from 17 matches. Still, three games without defeat - they have not gone four matches since February 2017 - has given them renewed hope and they are just about hanging in there.

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KICKOFF! We are up and running in the North-East, as West Bromwich Albion aim to keep alive their survival hopes and Newcastle United close in on a top-half finish. As ever, there is a great atmosphere inside St James' Park today.

West Brom have scored 41% of their goals from set-pieces this season, excluding penalties, which his the highest in the division. The Baggies have also thrown away 26 points from winning positions this term - including a two-goal lead in the reverse fixture.

The visitors seeing a lot more of the ball early on here, with Newcastle allowing them to do so. Matty Phillips spotted Dubravka off the line a few moments ago but opted against the shot, and the move eventually came to little.

A classic case of both teams cancelling each other out in the early stages here. Both shaping up in a 4-4-1-1 formation, remember, so that is not too surprising. Not sure if Shelvey was going for goal or looking for Gayle, but his ball from deep goes right out of play.

A very sloppy start to the contest here, with neither team able to truly settle. Gayle goes down on the edge of the box under minimal contact and is told to get back up. At the other end, Rondon fouls Yedlin inside the area.

United seeing more of the ball over the last three or four minutes but their play is a little disjointed, particularly when the ball makes its way into the final third. Eleven minutes played and we await the first shot of any note.

SHOT! Gayle once again goes to ground far too theatrically. Albion are given the chance to counter and James McClean's shot goes right across goal and wide of the far post, with Chris Brunt not close enough to slide in.

That was near enough the closest either side has come to a goal in the opening 15 minutes of a pretty sloppy match. West Brom appear to have a gameplan - allow Newcastle onto them before winning the ball and hitting them on the counter.

Not a great deal for home supporters to get excited about so far, as their side have been unable to create any real openings. West Brom have come closest to scoring through James McClean's dragged shot right across goal.

SAVE! A first save of the contest for Ben Foster to make, getting down to his left to keep out Dwight Gayle after the striker failed to pick out Perez. Decent enough shot but a save Foster was always expected to make.

Another long ball over the top sails straight out of play, with Newcastle struggling to really find any rhythm to their play. West Brom will be happy enough so far, but remember it is they who require a goal in the remaining 70 minutes.

More than a quarter of the match played and it is fair to say that it has not been a classic. Both teams have managed a shot apiece - Gayle testing Foster down low with a routine save and McClean dragging wide at the other end.

Crystal Palace are pulling further clear of the dropzone, having gone a goal ahead against Leicester City. Swansea are the side in Albion's sights, though, and other results will matter little unless they can net a goal here.

The ball sits up for Rondon 25 yards from goal after a poor first touch, and the Venezuelan striker decided to take on the half-volley. A poor attempt in the end, with the ball flying well wide of the Newcastle target.

Albion take the lead at St James' Park through an emphatic Matt Phillips finish. Jake Livermore played the ball inside Paul Dummett, Phillips took a touch to set himself and then rifled it past Martin Dubravka from 10 yards.

Well that goal should help to liven things up slightly, at least. Newcastle have not really got going so far this afternoon, not helped by the fact that their season is as good as over, but now they have to get a grip on the game.

As things stand, then, West Brom are on course to make it four games without defeat. Defeat for Swansea at home to Chelsea later today and it will go down to the final seven days of the season, although it will still be extremely tough.

So many 'nearly' moments for Newcastle in the final third; the final ball is not quite up to scratch and Albion are able to protect their one-goal lead. Incidentally, if Moore does keep Albion up will he be in the running for Manager of the Year?

Dawson wraps his arms around Gayle in the box but gets away with it. The referee did appear to make the correct call, yet there was no reason for the Albion centre-back to be taking that sort of risk - especially with the massive height advantage.

CHANCE! The best piece of play this afternoon by quite some distance, as Kenedy exchanges passes with Ayoze Perez and has just Ben Foster to beat, which he failed to do. The outside-of-the-boot finish clipped the outside of the post on its way through.

YELLOW CARD! Jake Livermore is cautioned for a lunging challenge on Matt Ritchie - the midfielder will be grateful that it was only a yellow card. Half time fast approaching and it is Albion who have a slender advantage.

A couple of Newcastle players - Gayle and Perez - seem to be carrying knocks as we enter the final minute of the half, so Benitez may change things around at the break. United, bar one good piece of play from Kenedy, have looked poor in the final third.

Positive end to the first half for Newcastle, as Diame lifted the ball over the bar after Albion failed to deal with a cross into the box. Gayle then met the resulting corner, which Foster did brilliantly to keep out from point-blank range.

With momentum on their side following a three-match unbeaten streak since Darren Moore's arrival, Albion went with an unchanged starting lineup in the North-East. A slow start to the contest saw the sides manage a shot apiece in the opening quarter - James McClean dragging wide of the far post and Dwight Gayle forcing Ben Foster into a fairly routine save.

The breakthrough arrived just short of the half-hour mark, as Matt Phillips controlled Jake Livermore's smart pass inside Paul Dummett and rifled it past Martin Dubravka with his second touch. Newcastle were unable to find the killer final ball for large parts of the opening 45 minutes, but it was the hosts who created the better chances heading into the interval.

Kenedy had just Foster to beat after exchanging passes with Ayoze Perez, but his outside-of-the-boot shot clipped the post and went out for a goal kick. A slightly trickier opening was wasted by Mohamed Diame, who lifted the ball over the crossbar, though from the resulting corner Dwight Gayle headed goalwards and Foster produced a sublime save from point-blank range.

BENCH WATCH!

NEWCASTLE UNITED SUBS: Darlow, Clark, Manquillo, Hayden, Murphy, Slimani, Joselu

WEST BROMWICH ALBION SUBS: Myhill, Evans, Yacob, Krychowiak, Burke, Robson-Kanu, Sturridge

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BENCH WATCH!

NEWCASTLE UNITED SUBS: Darlow, Clark, Manquillo, Hayden, Murphy, Slimani, Joselu

WEST BROMWICH ALBION SUBS: Myhill, Evans, Yacob, Krychowiak, Burke, Robson-Kanu, Sturridge

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RESTART! We are back under way at St James' Park, where neither side has made any changes at the break. Ayoze Perez and Dwight Gayle looked to be carrying knocks late in the first half, but they are clearly OK to continue.

Ritchie with a great little ball over the top, which Shelvey was either attempting to bring under control or hit back across goal. In the end he could manage neither, but that piece of play is a positive sign for the home side.

This second half looks like it is going to be a little more open, as Albion have just managed to get a few bodies forward. Phillips could not pick out Rodriguez's run at the back post, however, and what looked a promising attack came to a disappointing end.

Newcastle guilty of attempting to overdo it far too often this afternoon. Albion not exactly defending for their lives at the moment, and I am sure Darren Moore would take another 40 minutes of this. What a huge win this would be.

CHANCE! Jay Rodriguez with his clearest sight of goal yet, only to mishit the volley from 12 yards. Great headed assist from Matt Phillips, who is having plenty of joy down the right - much like he did against Liverpool last week.

Just not happening for Newcastle at the moment. The home fans urging their side on, and there is plenty of probing from the midfielders, but Perez and Gayle just cannot find a route through on goal. Changes could be made in the next five minutes.

United failing to win the ball back from Albion at the moment, and when they do it all too often goes long to nobody in particular. The Magpies have played some nice football at times, but chances have been few and far between.

NEWCASTLE UNITED SUB! We have reached the hour mark at St James' Park and home boss Benitez has rejigged his side slightly. Jacob Murphy is on for Paul Dummett and Kenedy has seemingly moved into the backline.

Ritchie did well to get something to the ball at the back post, but Foster was able to pluck it out of the air. Wonder if Newcastle's change of system will tempt Albion caretaker Moore into changing things around slightly himself.

Half a chance for Salomon Rondon, who fails to even find the target with his shot from around eight yards out. A second Albion goal may be required if they are to stay in the Premier League come 5pm this evening.

Ritchie is encouraged to shoot by the home fans, which he was more than happy to do. Brunt got across well and stuck a boot in front of the ball, helping the shot to fly well wide of the target. The referee, though, awarded a goal kick.

NEWCASTLE UNITED SUB! Brunt with a decent delivery into the box, which Dawson was unable to get to. The match has gone through another quiet spell, which will suit Albion's stand-in boss Moore just fine - 22 minutes left for his side to see through here, as Gayle comes on for Slimani.

Twenty minutes left to play at St James' Park and it is fair to say that it has been an afternoon of frustration for the hosts. Newcastle need to find that extra gear from somewhere, or else they are heading for back-to-back defeats.

Diame is the latest player to be booked for taking out Rodriguez. Moore has a couple of attacking options on the bench, but he has held off from turning to the likes of Oliver Burke and Hal-Robson Kanu for the time being.

Home boss Benitez evidently frustrated by what he is watching at the moment. In defence of Newcastle, it is surely difficult to get motivated after doing the hard work with their four-successive wins recently - job done for them.

Diame takes a fraction too long to get his shot away from the edge of the box, giving Albion a chance to close him down. The corner comes to little in the end and Foster will now east up a few seconds before booting the ball upfield.

WEST BROMWICH ALBION SUB! Moore has decided to pack out the middle of the park by bringing on Grzegorz Krychowiak for Jay Rodriguez. Rodriguez has not had his finest afternoon, missing a good chance earlier in the half to possibly kill things off.

NEWCASTLE UNITED SUB! Benitez turns to Joselu for his final change of the afternoon, with the Spanish attacker taking over from Ayoze Perez. Slimani and Joselu now leading the line - can they make a telling difference?

Albion not exactly holding on for the three points, truth be told. It has been a below-par showing from Newcastle, who have created just one major chance all afternoon - Kenedy slotting the ball wide after being played through by Ayoze Perez.

YELLOW CARD! James McClean is the fourth Albion play to be cautioned. Newcastle fortunate not to be a man down for the closing stages, though, as Slimani has just booted the leg of Craig Dawson off the ball.

Albion will be hugely disappointed if they fail to see this one through. The Baggies have not exactly produced the best display of the season, but since edging in front they have looked comfortable pretty much throughout.

Just two minutes of normal time left to play in the North-East and it is a familiar tale - Newcastle bossing possession but doing so very little with it. Kenedy takes matters into his own hands, only for his shot to end off target.

WEST BROMWICH ALBION SUB! Jonny Evans is on for James McClean for the final throes of the match. A smart change, because the visitors have showed no real sign of getting bodies forward for the past half an hour.

Albion on the brink of a fourth game without defeat - quite some doing! Just a second win in 16 attempts away at Newcastle is only half the job done for Albion, though, as they also require Swansea City to lose at home to Chelsea in the day's late kickoff.

The full-time whistle sounds at St James' Park, meaning Newcastle United have suffered back-to-back defeats for the first time this calendar year. More importantly, though, West Bromwich Albion have retained their status as a top-flight club for at least another couple of hours.

That concludes Sports Mole's live text coverage of events from the North-East. An on-the-whistle report can be found by clicking here, while updates from the match between Swansea City and Chelsea in South Wales can be followed here. Thanks for joining!