Newcastle Utd boss strong enough to take fans’ flak

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew during the Barclays Premier League match at St Mary's

Fans turned on Pardew during last weekend’s 4-0 defeat to Southampton at the St Mary’s Stadium.

And Pardew was braced for a hostile reception at St James’s Park this afternoon when he takes to the dugout out for his winless side’s Premier League home game against Hull City.

Many supporters had become disillusioned long before the Southampton game.

United’s league form has been dismal since the turn of the year, and Pardew was barracked during the final home game of last season against Cardiff City in May, won 3-0 by Pardew’s side.

Pardew - who retains the backing of club owner Mike Ashley - says he and his players will draw on that experience.

Asked if he was braced for a difficult afternoon, he said: “Of course.

“You don’t expect me to wave to the crowd and say ‘hi everyone, I’m happy, how are you today?’. That’s not happening.

“But it can also make you stronger - it can make the players stronger too.

“We have talked about he Cardiff game and coming through that. we knew before that game how much pressure there would be. There was more pressure on the players that day than on me.

“That was the first time I have ever experienced that.

“As a manager, you have to use your knowledge and resolve to deal with certain situations.

“I had some really testing times last season, as we know. It’s about being a manager who can control certain situations.

“I have changed my management this year in terms of spending more time away from the touchline. I will just gauge the situation on Saturday.”

Pardew - whose side are bottom of the league with two points from their opening four games - says he doesn’t “fear” the reception he will get from those fans who want him to leave his post.

Asked if he was nervous, he added: “Not at the moment, no, and I’m not in fear of it either.

“That’s not an ego or an arrogance thing, that’s just the way I am wired.

“I kind of want the game now, I want to play it. I want to get it done and I want to get a win.”

The Hull fixture is followed by a Capital One Cup tie against his former club Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on September 24.