Pardew has not lost Newcastle dressing room

Pardew’s winless side are 18th in the Premier League with seven games played.

And there have been loud and repeated chants against him from fans.

But Pardew – whose side entertain Leicester City tomorrow – is confident that he retains the backing of his players, who twice came from behind to draw 2-2 at fifth-placed Swansea City in the club’s last outing.

The 53-year-old feels the “energy and workrate” of his team backs up the assertion that the team is playing for him.

However, Pardew admits his side needs to find more inspiration in the final third of the pitch – and a solidity at the back – if it is to climb up the table and away from danger over the coming weeks.

“The stats back that up in terms of the energy and work-rate we’re putting in,” said Pardew.

“We do need to find that moment – we need to create more opportunities to win games.

“That’s not just attacking, but not giving away opportunities, like we did against Palace, conceding early in both halves at home.”

Pardew has previously managed West Ham United, Reading and Southampton, and he does not think he has EVER lost a dressing room in his managerial career.

“There aren’t too many times in your career you genuinely feel you lose the dressing-room,” he said.

“I don’t think I’ve lost a dressing-room before, but sometimes you can be slightly misguided by that because you’re always thinking positively and think people are behind you.

“But certainly there has been signs here that the players are desperate for the win. They are making mistakes rather than not wanting to win.

“There is a psychological balance, and we’ve got a lot of pressure on us this Saturday.

“The focus hasn’t been on us because of the internationals, but it will start to gear us as we get towards the game.

“The players need to be able to deliver under pressure.”