Stoke boosted their hopes of a top-10 finish and increased the pressure on Alan Pardew with a 1-0 victory over Newcastle at the Britannia Stadium this afternoon.

Newcastle 2 West Brom 1

ALAN SMITH said the time was right to embrace a new era at St James’ Park after signing a five-year deal with Newcastle yesterday for an undisclosed fee believed to be in the region of £6 million (€8.9 million).

Lee Bowyer and Jermaine Jenas are both set to figure in Newcastle’s Intertoto Cup quarter-final second leg clash against Dubnica tomorrow.