Islam Slimani facing three-game ban after Newcastle beaten by West Brom

West Bromwich Albion condemned Newcastle United to a seventh home defeat this afternoon.
Islam Slimani.Islam Slimani.
Islam Slimani.

A first-half strike from Matt Philips gave the Premier League’s basement club a 1-0 win at St James’s Park.

Rafa Benitez’s side remain 10th in the table ahead of next weekend’s game against Watford at Vicarage Road.

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United substitute Islam Slimani was involved in a late incident with Craig Dawson which could lead to him being banned for the club’s last three games.

Newcastle manager Benitez made one change to his starting XI and recalled Dwight Gayle in place of Slimani, who dropped down to the bench.

Newcastle probed away without creating a chance in the first 20 minutes. West Brom sat back and waited for an opportunity, and they took that chance when it came.

In the 29th minute Jake Livermore played a ball to Matt Phillips on the right, and he edged past Paul Dummett to shoot past Martin Dubravka and open the scoring.

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United had a chance to level six minutes later. Ayoze Perez played in Kenedy, who opted to shoot rather than rolled to ball to the unmarked Dwight Gayle. Kenedy’s shot struck the outside of the post.

Newcastle had another chance before the break. Ben Foster made a superb save to stop a Florian Lejeune header from a corner which had been helped on by Gayle.

Benitez sent on Jacob Murphy in the 58th minute and switched Kenedy to left-back. Slimani followed him on to the pitch midway through the half.

West Brom, defending deep and in numbers, continued to frustrate United, who were careless with the ball.

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Newcastle took a series of hopeful potshots at goal during the second half, and Perez was replaced by Joselu in a final change.

Joselu put a late header wide, but chances were few and far between.

Slimani appeared to kick out at Dawson in the 81st minute. Slimani, on loan from Leicester City, could face retrospective action if the incident wasn’t seen by referee David Coote.

West Brom held on to deservedly claim all three points.

NEWCASTLE UNITED: Dubravka; Yedlin, Lascelles, Lejeune, Dummett (Murphy, 58); Diame, Shelvey; Ritchie, Perez (Joselu, 78), Kenedy; Gayle (Slimani, 65).