West Bromwich Albion have told Alan Pardew his job is safe for another week, despite the club appearing doomed to the Championship.

Pardew will be in charge for Saturday’s home game against Leicester City after the board opted to give him another chance to spark the strugglers into life.

West Brom have been considering Pardew’s future following a torrid run of results but the lack of alternative options – or indeed managers who would want the job – are extending the 56-year-old’s troubled tenure.

It is understood that a move for Marco Silva, the former Watford manager, was rebuffed late last month and the sheer absence of credible contenders to replace Pardew is proving a huge problem.

West Brom wasted a series of clear opportunities before Watford’s Troy Deeney scored a late winner at Vicarage Road to condemn them to a fifth successive Premier League defeat.

Despite the result, it was an improved performance by Pardew’s side, who are now eight points adrift of 17th-placed Southampton, and the board believe there is still a chance he can guide the club to safety.

With games to come against the likes of Leicester, Bournemouth, Swansea City and Crystal Palace, there remains hope that the unlikeliest of great escapes can still be secured.

Pardew, however, has only earned one victory from 15 Premier League games and been battling against mounting unrest in the dressing room.

“We’re in a difficult position,” he said. “It’s not where we want to be. If you look at the league table, it would look daunting.

“I think from mine and the players’ point of view, we are best focusing on Leicester and trying to get a win and then going from there.

“I am just frustrated that we have not got the results I think perhaps we deserved. These last three or four games have been disappointing in my opinion but we were much better against Watford and that’s what we have to take forward going into next week, the positivity from the team and the commitment they showed to me. I thank them for that and I actually feel for them more than myself.”

Rondon was at fault for Deeney's goal credit: Reuters

Although he was encouraged by the his side’s showing, Pardew was left frustrated by the poor finishing of Salomon Rondon and the defensive error that allowed Deeney to run through on goal with just 13 minutes remaining.

“Defensively, I thought we were brilliant other than that one moment when we got caught open,” Pardew said. “We will work this week a little bit more on creating and trying to score a goal, and carry forward our defensive work. That’s all you can do, keep working on the team.”

Deeney’s strike, which provided Watford with a second successive victory, has taken the club to 9th place with nine games remaining.

It would now take a dramatic loss of form for Javi Gracia’s side to be dragged back into the relegation battle, even if the upcoming fixtures against Arsenal and Liverpool are likely to be more challenging encounters.

Deeney celebrates his winning goal with the Watford fans credit: Getty Images

Gracia praised the influence of Deeney, who has scored three goals in his last four games.

“He is an important reference for me and for all team-mates,” Gracia said. “He is in a good moment now. But I know he is not only important for these goals. He is important for many things inside and outside the pitch.”

One concern for Gracia will be the form of Richarlison, the Brazilian winger who began the season so brightly but has not scored since November. Richarlison appeared to react angrily to being substituted on Saturday, but Gracia insisted he was not concerned by the

20-year-old’s attitude.

“I don’t think about the reactions of the players,” Gracia said. “I have to take these kinds of decisions and I do it. I only think about concentrating on the training sessions to improve the level of the players and to get the better results I can. The rest I don’t mind.”