Alan Pardew takes responsibility for Newcastle United results

The Magpies are propping up the division four games into the new season, the most recent being Saturday’s 4-0 drubbing at Southampton.

Many of the 2,500 travelling fans at the St Mary’s Stadium chanted for Pardew’s dismissal.

But United owner Mike Ashley has resisted those demands and the 53-year-old will be in charge for Saturday’s home game against Hull City.

For his part, embattled Pardew is adamant that his new-look team will improve.

“I think as a group, and individually, we’re better than we showed, and I take responsibility for that,” said Pardew.

“It’s a heavy defeat when we were looking for so much more.”

Newcastle were beaten at St Mary’s by the same scoreline last season, and United were undone by another slow start on the south coast, where they were found wanting at both ends of the pitch.

“It was a typical performance when we come here,” said Pardew.

“We didn’t start great and they had pressure before that first goal. They got that goal, and then it was always going to be uphill for us.

“The second goal was an error, and a bit of fortune on their part, and then you really have got a battle. It was a tough day to take.”

Pardew lost Siem de Jong and Rolando Aarons to injury during the international break.

And a squad which he had felt was strong enough to cope with injuries before a ball was kicked is already being tested.

“We had two injuries this week that were particular blows mentally to us,” said Pardew.

“To then concede two goals like that, it’s very, very difficult to dig yourself out.

“After 20 minutes, I thought we regrouped. We were better, and I think at that point we needed a break.

“Moussa (Sissoko) had a great chance, and unfortunately it didn’t go in when we really needed it [to go in].

“It was that time of the game that we needed to score and we had a good bit of pressure.

“In the second half, again we conceded a bad goal ,and then the game was gone.

“Then it really was about damage limitation really.”