Newcastle 0 West Brom 1 - Report and pictures

The Baggies had to win here to keep their ultra-slim survival hopes alive, and win they did, thanks to a thumping Matt Phillips goal on the half-hour mark and an organised performance that is fast becoming the hallmark of Moore's short tenure.

The caretaker boss has now picked up eight points from his first four games, which is as many as Alan Pardew managed in 18.

He's dragged them to within five points of Swansea with two games remaining and just two behind Stoke. Somehow, he keeps delaying relegation.

Considering Southampton beat Bournemouth and Swansea still have four games to play, including one against Chelsea tonight and another against the Saints, it will probably be too litte, too late.

Not only would Albion have to beat Tottenham and Crystal Palace, but they would need a remarkable run of results elsewhere to fall their way.

But they have given themselves the tiniest of outside chances thanks to another committed and battling performance under Moore.

Albion's caretaker kept faith in the same starting line-up that had stayed unbeaten for his first three games in charge, leaving Jonny Evans and Daniel Sturridge on the bench.

Benitez made one change from Monday's 1-0 defeat to Everton, replacing Islam Slimani with Dwight Gayle.

Both teams spent the opening stages feeling each other out, and it became clear that crucial for Albion was Jay Rodriguez and Jake Livermore deciding who was picking up Jonjo Shelvey while Chris Brunt would have to keep an eye on Ayoze Perez dropping deep to collect the ball.

Ten minutes in, the Baggies nearly capped off a sweeping move up the pitch but Matt Phillips's cross got stuck under Kieran Gibbs's foot and in the end, Salomon Rondon conceded a foul.

Two minutes later the Venezuelan atoned for his error, winnig the ball off Florian Lejeune and setting James McClean free, but after jinking in and out of his full-back, the winger flashed his shot wide of the far post, much to the delight of the home crowd who booed his every touch because of his Sunderland connections.

The first time Albion lost Shelvey, he swiftly ferried the ball forward to Dwight Gayle, who had the first shot on target after his attempted pass to Perez was blocked, but Ben Foster gathered easily low down to his left.

There were few chances at either end though, as both teams struggled to create any openings.

Albion had a good chance when Rondon won a flick on to send Rodriguez away, but the Venezuelan couldn't collect the return pass in the area and the chance went begging.

The Baggies did make the break-through though just before the half-hour mark, and it was a goal thumped home in an emphatic fashion.

When Foster's goalkick was nodded down into Livermore's path, the midfielder stabbed a first time ball over the top of the Newcastle defence to Phillips.

He was in acres of space, and set himself before crashing the ball past Martin Dubravka. And that goal sparked the game into life.

Newcastle almost struck back immediately with the best move of the match, but Kenedy's deft finish kissed the outside of post after his gorgeous one-two with Perez carved Albion open.

The Baggies should have doubled their lead soon after when Rodriguez sent Livermore through, but the midfielder checked back into traffic when he should have shot sooner.

But then the hosts must've thought they'd equalised just before the break when Gayle latched onto a corner, but Foster somehow clawed his header away before Albion swept up the pitch and Rodriguez tested Dubravka from a narrow angle.

The second half started in similar vein to the first, with both teams trading blows. Shelvey nearly latched onto a cute chip from Matt Ritchie before Rodriguez mistimed a volley after Phillips had headed McClean's deep cross back into the danger zone.

Newcastle started to have more and more possession in Albion's half as they went searching for an equaliser, but the Baggies are more organised under Moore, and were holding firm.

Rondon wasted a good chance after Livermore squirted the ball through to him, lashing his shot over the bar, while the Geordies became more and more frustrated at their team's inability to break the Baggies down.

Benitez sent on Jacob Murphy and Islam Slimani in an attempt to give Albion a different test, but Newcastle were struggling to get into positions to send in crosses to the Algerian.

Albion were heading, clearing, getting toes in, and battling their way towards victory. Moore sent on Grzegorz Krychowiak for Jay Rodriguez to try and see out the game.

When Newcastle finally put a cross on someone's head five minutes from time it was the substitute Joselu who somehow put a glaring chance wide when he should have scored.

After that, Albion managed the game perfectly, keeping the ball in Newcastle's half and drawing fouls.

Evans and Hal Robson-Kanu came on in the dying embers to help see the game out, and by the end Newcastle had runout of puff.

They couldn't, could they?!

Key moments

29 GOAL ALBION - Livermore stabs the ball forward over the Newcastle defence and Phillips is in acres of space. He sets himself before crashing the ball home.

35 Kenedy kisses the outside of the post after a gorgeous one-two with Perez on the edge of the box.

44 Foster claws away Gayle's header in stunning fashion before Albion break away and Rodriguez tests Dubravka.

Man of the match

Craig Dawson - Plenty of contenders but the centre-back was a colossus at the back.

Position in the table

20th, with 28 points from 36 games.

Teams

Newcastle United (4-4-1-1): Dubravka, Dummett (Murphy 58), Lascelles (c), Lejeune, Yedlin, Ritchie, Diame, Shelvey, Kenedy, Perez (Joselu 78), Gayle (Slimani 65).

Unused subs: Darlow, Clark, Hayden, Manquillo.

Albion (4-4-1-1): Foster, Nyom, Dawson, Hegazi, Gibbs, Phillips, Livermore, Brunt (c), McClean (Evans 89), Rodriguez (Krychowiak 76), Rondon (Robson-Kanu 90+2).

Unused subs: Myhill, Yacob, Burke, Sturridge.

Referee: David Coote (Nottinghamshire)

Attendance: 52,283