Albion boss Tony Pulis defends John Carver

But the Baggies gaffer is fully focused on inflicting more misery on the Toon chief tomorrow.

Carver is desperate to half an alarming run of eight straight defeats that has left the Geordies in a relegation scrap.

By contrast the Baggies go to the North East seeking a second successive away win after beating Manchester United 1-0 last weekend.

And Pulis reckons Carver's 'best coach' comment displays an appetite for the fight, adding: "What John has said in his own mind, you can see where he's coming from.

"We've all got confidence and you must have that self confidence. He's found himself in a very difficult situation.

"If you're in management long enough, then you will go through these periods and I have had what John's going through.

"It's enormous pressure and you have to get through it - that's management. But it's character building and it looks as if he's handling it OK to me.

"Nigel Pearson at Leicester has gone through it, Chris Ramsey at Queens Park Rangers is going through it and so is Sean Dyche at Burnley.

"You have the good times and the bad times - if you want to be in this game, unless you're at the top and are very lucky to have the best players and at the biggest clubs, we all suffer.

"But I don't worry about Newcastle - the Albion is all my focus, everything."

Albion are safe all but mathematically, but Pulis has vowed his side will give it everything to end their campaign on a high.

He said: "They've got three games to pick some points up against us and we have a responsibility to everyone in the league - not only to ourselves - that we go up there and give it our best shot.

"We have a responsibility to make sure we approach the game in the right manner and we have three difficult matches."

Pulis hinted complacency may have crept in at Newcastle after the departure of Alan Pardew, when they were in mid-table.

He said: "When he took over, most people thought they were safe, full stop, but they have just got dragged into it.

"The big thing about football is you should never take anything for granted. As soon as you do, it turns around and kicks you on the backside.

"It's a difficult situation because Newcastle is a big club with unbelievable expectations.

"I don't worry about anything else, apart from the Newcastle game, and then it will be Chelsea and Arsenal, and then it will be 'what can I do for next year to make this club better?'"