New boss Mel looks to put new pep in Baggies step

Southampton 1 West Brom 1

After 26 days of dilly-dallying, the man who led Real Betis to seventh in the Primera Division last season was on Thursday named Steve Clarke’s successor.

The Spaniard watched from the stands at Southampton on Saturday, when Adam Lallana’s strike resulted in a 1-0 loss that ended a four-match unbeaten league streak under caretaker Keith Downing.