The pressure on Newcastle manager Alan Pardew cranked up as his side were beaten 1-0 by Stoke at a rain-drenched Britannia Stadium.
Newcastle were slow to react at the back as Peter Crouch headed in from the lively Victor Moses’ cross in the 15th minute. And while there were other moments of defensive uncertainty from the visitors, they rarely looked like finding an equaliser, with Potters goalkeeper Asmir Begovic only really being called upon to make one decent save, keeping out Daryl Janmaat.
Jack Colback came close to levelling late on, but struck the bar from close range. Stoke might have had a penalty in the first half when Yoan Gouffran bundled over Moses, and substitute Marko Arnautovic then hit the post early in the second half.
Overall, Mark Hughes’ team were value for what were their first points at home in the Premier League this season and takes them from 17th up to 11th.
Newcastle, meanwhile, stay second-bottom and without a league victory this term. They have won only once in 14 top-flight games stretching back to 2013/14, with ten of those being losses.
The defeat leaves Newcastle in 19th place with just three points from their opening six matches of the season. Going back to last season, Newcastle has only won one of their last 14 league games, which is the kind of run of form that gets managers fired.
Speaking after the defeat Pardew told Sky Sports 1:
“It leaves us in the position where we’re in the bottom three and we have to fight. I have to fight and the team have to fight and that’s what we’ll continue to do until we can turn it around.”
Pardew also said he would meet with Mike Ashley this week.
“I think we’ll have some serious conversations before Saturday because he doesn’t want to lose and nor do I.
“I think it’s important I show to the team that I’m here to lead the team.
“I’ve never really been in this situation before. It’s a bit unique, but I’m a professional football manager, that’s what I do and that’s what I’ll continue to do.”
Pardew, whose team have scored only three goals from their six league games, said:
“The last third is obviously a problem for us and we have to put that right.
“We have to find the answer. We’ll have to have a look at it — make changes, change the system or something. I’ve got to give the team more options in terms of going forward.
“We didn’t create enough — I’m not going to make any excuses. We are quite honest with ourselves in the dressing room that we need to create more.
“We had a big chance with Jack, who is beating himself up about it. If that goes in, I think we all knew what we were going to do -we were going to get the ball and try to get the winner, because we know that winning was everything tonight.
“A draw would have been as bad as a defeat really tonight. We need to get a win and get it quick.”
