West Brom boss Sam Allardyce expects to face a united Newcastle today.

The Toon go into the game amid confirmation of a training ground row between manager Steve Bruce and midfielder Matt Ritchie.

Bruce, though, insists rows like that happen all the time and both him and Ritchie have put it behind him.

And Allardyce expects that to be the case – with Albion's boss fearing the row will actually motivate Newcastle.

“There has been a disagreement – what's wrong with that?" Allardyce said.

“I like disagreements. I like people to air their views and argue. It means they care.

“We should speak up for ourselves and not be subservient, if we feel like we've been wronged.

“If a player feels his manager is wrong, why not speak up?

“Say what you feel, there's nothing wrong with it. Then you sort it out, get on with it, it's forgotten the next day.

“It's a good thing having disagreements and digging each other out.

“This world is becoming pathetic as far as I'm concerned when it comes to criticism or telling people they're not showing the right attitude.

“A player telling a manager 'I think you're wrong'. What's wrong with it?

“It should galvanise. People always want to make too much fuss about it, because bad news is good news. They love writing about it, and reporting on it.

“I find it laughable, let's just put it that way."