GEBRUS

The Baggies are seven points adrift of safety following the 2-1 home defeat by Huddersfield, and Pardew knows his side must get a result at Vicarage Road, where a sixth straight league defeat could spell the end - 13 weeks after his appointment.

His preparations for the game this week have been affected more by a leak to the media than the adverse weather, after it was revealed that Chris Brunt criticised his tactics in a heated dressing-room exchange last Saturday. Brunt disagreed with the decision to stick with a 4-4-2 formation against the Terriers, who played a five-man midfield, and the Northern Ireland international also had harsh words for some of his team-mates, who he accused of a lack of effort and desire.

Pardew said: "Weve made it more difficult because of what happened in Barcelona and weve put the spotlight on ourselves in terms of professionalism. "The stuff that came out of the dressing room on Saturday was disappointing, because what goes on in the dressing room should stay in the dressing room in my opinion. But we had drug-testers in there and people perhaps not normally associated with the dressing room. "But I dont think our fans will be disappointed with that. Would they expect us not to have words after a performance like that? Id be foolish and not a good manager if I didnt listen to those comments. Hopefully I can come up with some answers for Saturday."

Watford will be in no mood to show mercy having experienced a revival in recent weeks under head coach Javi Gracia, with the 1-0 win to Everton last Saturday making it back-to-back home wins to move the team into the top half of the table.

The Hornets will be determined not to get sucked back into the relegation battle having moved six points clear of the drop zone with 10 games remaining. Gracia is expecting a tough encounter against the Baggies, who are fighting to preserve their top flight status for an eighth consecutive season.

The Watford boss said at his pre-match press conference: "It will be an opportunity to get three points. But I dont think it will be easier to play against West Brom, than to play against Arsenal in the next game after that," Gracia added. "Im certain West Brom will play the next game as though its the last one."

Watford expect to have midfielder Will Hughes available again following a hamstring problem for the Premier League match against West Brom. On-loan Barcelona winger Gerard Deulofeu, though, faces a spell out after suffering a stress fracture in his foot during the win over Everton.

Defender Craig Cathcart is set to resume training following his long-term knee problem, but midfielder Nathaniel Chalobah (knee), Younes Kaboul (foot), Tom Cleverley (thigh) and Isaac Success (knee) remain unavailable.

West Brom have an unchanged squad for the trip to Watford but boss Pardew has said he will make changes to his team.

Pardew is in desperate need of a win, with his side bottom of the Premier League table and seven points adrift of safety, and he could recall the likes of Gareth McAuley, Jake Livermore, Brunt and Hal Robson-Kanu. On-loan striker Daniel Sturridge (hamstring) remains a couple of weeks away from a return to fitness while Nacer Chadli (hip) and James Morrison (Achilles) are still out as well.