Scott Dobie's second-half double ensured West Brom exited the Barclaycard
Premiership with their heads held high, but it was the man he replaced who will
win the Baggies headlines.
Dobie was introduced on the half hour in place of Albion legend Bob Taylor,
whose final appearance before a summer free transfer was curtailed by injury.
The ovation which greeted Taylor's enforced withdrawal matched the delight
with which the vocal home following celebrated a point that might have been
three were it not for a late piece of brilliance by Hugo Viana.
Jermaine Jenas had headed Champions League-bound Newcastle into the lead at
the end of the first half.
But Dobie prodded home Albion's equaliser in the 57th minute, and then let fly
with an innocuous-looking shot from inside the Newcastle box which curled into
the net off the far post with 18 minutes to go.
Only Viana's magnificent long-range free-kick with 10 minutes left on the
clock saved Sir Bobby Robson's blushes on his return to the club he served as a
player in the 1950s.
Newcastle had started the game relieved that their Champions League future was
secured with Jonathan Woodgate, Olivier Bernard and Laurent Robert all added to
a lengthy injury list and striker Craig Bellamy suspended again.
But during a lukewarm first period, it appeared likely that even Robson's
patched-up side would be good enough to round off their season with a win over
the long-since-relegated Baggies.
Shola Amoebi in particular was in fine form up front and he almost got a foot
in the way of Des Lyttle's second minute back-header to Russell Hoult.
Amoebi had another chance in the box two minutes later, but he was adjudged to
have fouled Larus Sigurdsson as he rose to meet Nolberto Solano's right-wing
cross.
Neil Clement had Albion's first chance in the sixth minute with a low 30-yard
free-kick which was deflected wide of target.
And the home fans were out of their seats some 60 seconds later when Andy
Johnson's cross found Taylor in the box, but he was denied a shooting chance by
Andrew O'Brien's interception.
It was to be Taylor's last chance in Albion colours before his summer
departure.
Kieron Dyer mis-kicked in the Albion box and then Amoebi had the ball in the
net, but was clearly offside and his strike did not stand.
More good work by O'Brien at the back denied Daniele Dichio a shooting chance
after he chased down Jason Koumas' long ball up field.
Lomana Lua Lua headed narrowly over the bar for Newcastle, but just as the
visitors looked to be gaining the upper hand Albion struck back and Johnson
somehow skied a clear chance in the box after Jason Koumas' superb lofted pass.
Taylor limped to the sidelines for treatment in the 23rd minute and although
he continued for a while, it soon became evident he would not be able to
continue.
Larus Sigurdsson almost gifted Newcastle the lead in the 43rd minute when he
scooped a Jenas ball over his own bar.
But from Solano's resulting set-piece, Jenas jumped unchallenged to hit his
powerful header past Hoult and open the scoring.
Amoebi caused havoc at the start of the second period and only last-ditch
defending by Sigurdsson and James Chambers kept Albion in with a chance.
Dobie horribly missed his first chance in the 55th minute after being sent
clear by Dichio, but wasting too much time and eventually prodding a poor shot
straight at Shay Given.
But he made up for his mistake with his quick-fire double which had Albion's
fans celebrating and threatened to turn the end of Newcastle's exciting season
into an embarrassment.
Viana's brilliant set-piece, though, denied Albion their goodbye victory - but
it hardly mattered to the home fans who were clearly intent of wringing every
last drop of enjoyment out of their Premier League adventure.
Teams:
West Brom: Hoult, Sigurdsson, Wallwork,
James Chambers (Udeze 81), Lyttle, McInnes, Koumas, Johnson,
Clement, Taylor (Dobie 30), Dichio.
Subs Not Used: Jensen, Balis, Roberts.
Goals: Dobie 57, 72.
Newcastle: Given, Griffin, Caldwell, O'Brien, Hughes,
Solano (Ambrose 76), Dyer (Kerr 90), Jenas, Viana, Ameobi,
LuaLua (Chopra 82).
Subs Not Used: Harper, Bramble.
Goals: Jenas 43, Viana 80.
Att: 27,036
Ref: G Barber (Hertfordshire).
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