Kinnear planning to leave hospital

JOE KINNEAR is already planning his return to Newcastle’s training ground as he waits to be released from hospital this morning.

The Newcastle manager, 61, remains under observation in a Sutton Coldfield hospital following his admission on Saturday morning after he complained of high blood pressure and pins and needles in his left arm at the team hotel.

Newcastle assistant manager Chris Hughton went to visit Kinnear, who suffered a mild heart attack almost 10 years ago, along with managing director Derek Llambias after the game, and has reported that he is in good spirits.

“He was in very good form, typical Joe,” Hughton said. “He was in good form, very good form. He is expected to be out in the next couple of days. He is in bullish mood and already talking about when he is going to be back at the training ground, so that’s all very good news.”

Goals from Damien Duff and Peter Lovenkrands in a whirlwind start, coupled with Steven Taylor’s header before the break eased the Magpies’ four points clear of the drop zone.

West Brom captain Paul Robinson is warning his side cannot afford a repeat of the “embarrassing and shambolic” defending on show here if they are to avoid relegation.

Albion gifted Newcastle their precious win courtesy of some atrocious defensive play, with centre-backs Abdoulaye Meite and Leon Barnett looking particularly uncomfortable. Only Marc-Antoine Fortune’s well-taken brace gave the scoreline some respectability.

“It was pretty embarrassing and shambolic to concede goals like we did,” Robinson said. “We’ve got to stop these silly mistakes, because it’s just not good enough.”

WEST BROM (4-4-2): Carson 5, Hoefkens 6, Barnett 4, Meite 4, Robinson 5, Kim 4 (Filipe Teixeira 46, 5), Koren 7, Valero 6 (Moore 84, 5), Brunt 5 (Bednar 46, 6), Morrison 6, Fortune 8.

Subs Not Used: Kiely, Cech, Pele, Mulumbu.

NEWCASTLE (4-4-2): Harper 6, S Taylor 7, Bassong 6, Coloccini 7, Jose Enrique 6, R Taylor 6, Nolan 6, Butt 6, Duff 7, Ameobi 6 (Viduka 80, 5), Lovenkrands 7 (Xisco 90, 5).

Subs Not Used: Forster, Cacapa, Smith, Geremi, Edgar.

REFEREE: Chris Foy (Merseyside) 6: Let things flow, most of the time at least.

MATCH RATING: *** Slapstick defending meant this was always engrossing.