IS IT DOWN TO A CHANGE IN PREPARATIONS FOR GAMES?
Alan Pardew: “This is an area fans are getting a bit of a misconception about us.
Because of the length of our deals, there is a suggestion we’re not working as hard or something like that – it’s absolutely ridiculous.
“You actually work harder in these periods. It’s not a question of security or money, it’s about winning.
We want to win. We are hurting, all of us.
“What you can’t do is overload the information.
The preparation we did for games last year, is no different. We’ve kept it very similar.
“Tactically, we’ve changed certain things about preparation, but the way we prepare for the opposition, what is said, and where our mindset is before we go into a game is very similar to last year.
“A lot of the players here have only experienced good times at this club, this is the first time since relegation that this club has faced a difficult period like this, one or two players are finding that difficult to deal with.”
THE EIGHT-YEAR CONTRACT?
Alan Pardew: “That contract was probably agreed before Tottenham (first game of season), the timing of signing it was insignificant in terms of results. Mike wants stability.
He has put me under no pressure during this period, other than to ask ‘can I help you any more’. That’s it.
“But there is always going to be external pressure, from fans who want more and the media, because that’s their job.
"In the world you’re in, when a manager has lost five of his last six games, or however you want to look at it – I have to look at the bigger picture and take a balanced view.”
HAVE THE OPPOSITION FOUND YOU OUT THIS SEASON?
Alan Pardew: “No, I think that’s a little bit unfair, because I think that if you’re a good side, you’re a good side and you find a way.
“But the injuries and the suspensions and the Europa League, you can’t say that hasn’t had an impact.
"Any logical football person, even our harshest critic as a fan, would say it’s had an impact.
“It’s knocked some momentum out of us, whereas last year, when you have that momentum, you don’t really have to think very much.
“Are we working as hard as we were? Yes. In fact, you don’t have to work so hard when you have some momentum, because the players are in a good place and you rollover from game to game.
"When results are bad, you’re working a lot harder.”
HAVE INJURIES, A LACK OF FORM AND OTHER MATTERS COMBINED TO CREATE THE LOSS OF FORM?
Alan Pardew: “It is a combination of things.
"There is not one big reason for it.
"You have to balance some of the criticism.
"Some of it has been fair, some of it has not been fair.
"I have to sift through that and I do with that the players privately.
“They know how I feel after Fulham. I was disappointed with some of our performances.
"If we are going to get any sort of result against Manchester City, it has to be a lot better.
"It’s a balancing act between encouragement and criticism.”
NEWCASTLE’S BIG PLAYERS ARE EITHER INJURED OR OUT OF FORM?
Alan Pardew: “You have to think about what stimulates the player.
"Cheik’s performance against Fulham was hot and cold, actually, he did a lot of really good things in that game.
His stats look really good, but he made two or three big errors which almost cost us a goal, which is unusual for him. It’s not a major issue.
“It’s not like he was struggling to get around the pitch of that his percentage of passing was way down.
“Jonas, on the other hand, has had a difficult season and I think we’re looking to get a little bit more from him.
"We want him to be more positive and give us a little more je ne sais quoi in the final third.”
DEMBA BA AND PAPISS CISSE CANNOT PLAY TOGETHER?
Alan Pardew: “That's a process we’re looking at, to try and get the best out of them.
"We do sometimes change within a game, like we did at Fulham, to try and do that.
"Obviously the opposition try to disrupt that.
“They don’t want them to play well, so we have to find a way they contribute.
"That’s not to say we can’t improve it.
“We’re still working to get the best out of them.”
NEWCASTLE UNITED FC 2012/13
Newcastle United Fixtures
Saturday December 15 12:45 Newcastle Utd v Manchester City
Saturday December 22 15:00 Newcastle United v QPR
Wednesday December 26 15:00 Man Utd v Newcastle United
Saturday December 29 17:30 Arsenal v Newcastle United
PREMIERSHIP
FULHAM 2 NEWCASTLE 1 (Ben Arfa)
Krul, Simpson, Coloccini, Williamson, Santon, Gutierrez, Tiote (86' Bigirimana), Anita (86' Marveaux), Ben Arfa (70' Shola Ameobi), Cisse, Ba.
Subs: Harper, Perch, Ferguson, Tavernier
NEWCASTLE 3 WIGAN 0 (Ba 2 - 1 pen, Bigirimana)
Krul, Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon (49' Ferguson), Marveaux, Tiote (46' Bigirimana) Anita, Gutierrez (75' Sammy Ameobi), Ba, Cisse
Subs: Harper, Shola Ameobi, Ranger, Tavernier
STOKE 2 NEWCASTLE 1 (Cisse)
Krul, Simpson, Coloccini, Williamson, Santon, Anita (87' Sammy Ameobi), Perch, Tiote, Gutierrez, Ba, Cisse (87' Ranger).
Subs: Elliot, Bigirimana, Marveaux, Ferguson, Tavernier
SOUTHAMPTON 2 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Simpson, S Taylor (90+1' Perch), Williamson, Santon, Anita (66' Marveaux), Tiote, Gutierrez, Ferguson (46' Sammy Ameobi), Ba, Cisse.
Subs: Harper, Bigirimana, Ranger, Tavernier
NEWCASTLE 1 SWANSEA 2 (Ba)
Krul, Simpson (74' Bigirimana), S Taylor, Williamson, Santon, Ben Arfa, Anita, Tiote, Ferguson (46' Shola Ameobi), Sammy Ameobi (79' Marveaux), Ba.
Subs: Elliot, Amalfitano, Tavernier,Abeid
NEWCASTLE 0 WEST HAM 1
Krul, Simpson (79' Obertan), Steven Taylor, Williamson, Santon, Ben Arfa, Cabaye, Gutierrez (24' Anita), Ferguson, Cisse (45+5' Shola Ameobi), Ba
Subs:Elliot, Amalfitano, Bigirimana, Marveaux.
LIVERPOOL 1 NEWCASTLE 1 (Cabaye)
Krul, Anita, S Taylor, Coloccini, Santon, Perch (26' Simpson), Cabaye (68' Ferguson), Gutierrez, Ben Arfa, Cisse, Ba (49' Sammy Ameobi).
Subs: Harper, Williamson, Shola Ameobi, Obertan.
NEWCASTLE 2 WEST BROM 1 (Ba, Cisse)
Krul, Simpson (61 Cisse), Coloccini, Williamson, Santon, Ben Arfa, Cabaye, Perch, Gutierrez, Ba (72 Sammy Ameobi), Shola Ameobi (61 Obertan).
Subs: Harper, Anita, Steven Taylor, Ferguson.
SUNDERLAND 1 NEWCASTLE UTD 1 (Cabaye)
Krul,Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini (79' S Taylor) Santon, Gutierrez, Cabaye, Tiote, Ben Arfa (83' Obertan), Ba, Shola Ameobi (38' Perch).
Subs: Harper, Anita, Cisse, Ferguson
NEWCASTLE UTD 0 MAN UTD 3
Harper, Santon, Perch, Williamson, Ferguson (63' Anita), Ben Arfa, Tiote (80' Bigirimana), Cabaye, Gutierrez, Cisse (63' Shola Ameobi), Ba
Subs: Alnwick, Simpson, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi
READING 2 NEWCASTLE 2 (Ba 2)
Harper, Perch, Williamson, Steven Taylor (Tavernier 56), Santon, Ben Arfa, Tiote, Bigirimana (Ferguson 70), Gutierrez, Cisse (Shola Ameobi 69), Ba.
Subs not used: Elliot, Anita, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi.
NEWCASTLE 1 NORWICH 0 (Ba)
Harper, Perch, Williamson, Steven Taylor, Santon, Ben Arfa (Shola 85mins), Anita (Tiote 76 mins), Cabaye, Jonas, Cisse (Obertan 70 mins), Ba
Subs unused: Elliot, Tavernier, Bigirimana, Sammy Ameobi
EVERTON 2 NEWCASTLE 2 (Ba 2)
Harper; Perch, Williamson, Taylor, Santon; Anita, Cabaye (Bigirimana 93), Gutierrez; Marveaux (Ba 46), Ben Arfa; Cissé (Shola Ameobi 80).
Substitutes not used Elliot (g), Gosling, Obertan, Tavernier.
NEWCASTLE 1 ASTON VILLA 1 (Ben Arfa)
Krul, Simpson (Bigirimana 38), Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Santon, Ben Arfa, Cabaye, Anita, Gutierrez (Marveaux 86), Ba (Obertan 86), Cisse
Subs not used: Harper, Williamson, Gosling, Amalfitano
CHELSEA 2 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Simpson (Ryan Taylor 64), Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Santon (Marveaux 74), Ben Arfa, Anita, Cabaye (Perch 77), Gutierrez, Ba, Cisse
Subs not used: Harper, Williamson, Gosling, Obertan
NEWCASTLE 2 SPURS 1 (Ba, Ben Arfa pen)
Krul; Simpson, S Taylor, Perch, Santon; Ben Arfa, Cabaye (Anita, 71), Tiote, Gutierrez; Cisse, Ba (Obertan, 85). Subs not used: Harper; R Taylor, Williamson, Gosling, Amalfitano
EUROPA LEAGUE
BORDEAUX 2 NEWCASTLE 0
Elliot, Tavernier, Williamson (74' Coloccini), Perch, Ferguson, Abeid, Bigirimana, Ranger, Marveaux, Sammy Ameobi (46' Anita) Shola Ameobi (80' Cisse)
Subs: Krul, Simpson, Romain Amalfitano, Campbell
NEWCASTLE 1 MARITIMO 1
Krul, Simpson, S Taylor, Coloccini, Santon, Marveaux, Bigirimana, Anita, Sammy Ameobi (76' Abeid), Ben Arfa (40' Ba), Cisse (50' Amalfitano)
Subs: Elliot, Williamson, Ferguson, Tavernier'.
CLUB BRUGGE 2 NEWCASTLE 2 (Anita, Shola Ameobi)
Krul, Anita, Williamson (58' Steven Taylor), Coloccini, Tavernier, Tiote, Sammy Ameobi (83' Amalfitano), Marveaux, Bigirimana (72' Cabaye), Obertan, Shola Ameobi
Sub: Elliot, Santon, Cisse, Shane Ferguson
NEWCASTLE 1 CLUB BRUGGE 0 (Obertan)
Harper, Perch, Santon, Steven Taylor, Ferguson 80 (Cabaye), Obertan, Tiote, Bigirimana, Anita 46' (Shola Ameobi), Sammy Ameobi 73' (Coloccini), Cisse
Subs: Krul, Ben Arfa, Ba, Campbell
NEWCASTLE 3 BORDEAUX 0 (Shola Ameobi, Henrique og), Cisse)
Elliot (Harper, 46 ); Simpson, Williamson, Perch, Ferguson; Anita, Tiote (Gosling, 71), Cabaye (Bigirimana, 61); Cisse, Ameobi, Obertan.
MARITIMO 0 NEWCASTLE 0
Elliot, Santon, Williamson, Perch, S Taylor, Gosling, Amalfitano (Ferguson 76), Bigirimana, Obertan (Marveaux 80), Vuckic (Sami Ameobi 53), Shola Ameobi.
Subs (not used): Harper (gk), Tavernier, Abeid, Campbell
NEWCASTLE 1 ATROMITOS 0 (Vuckic)
Krul, Simpson, Coloccini, Williamson, Ryan Taylor (11 Vuckic), Obertan, Bigirimana, Perch (59 Tavernier), Marveaux (91 Amalfitano), Gosling, Ba.
Subs: Harper, Cabaye, Cisse, Campbell.
ATROMITOS 1 NEWCASTLE 1 (R Taylor)
Harper; Tavernier, Williamson, Perch, R Taylor; Bigirimana, Anita; Obertan, Gosling (Amalfitano, 64), Marveaux (Gutierrez, 71); Cisse (Campbell, 77). Subs not used: Krul, Santon, Cabaye, S Taylor.
LEAGUE CUP
MAN UTD 2 NEWCASTLE 1 (Cisse)
Elliot, Coloccini (Ferguson 61), Williamson, Perch, Tavernier, Gosling, Marveaux, Tioté (Bigirimana 71), Obertan, Vuckic (Cisse 81), Shola Ameobi.
Subs not used: Harper, Anita, Amalfitano, Sammy Ameobi.
PRE-SEASON
CARDIFF CITY 4 NEWCASTLE 1 (Shola Ameobi pen)
Krul, Simpson, Coloccini (Williamson 46), Steven Taylor (Gosling 63), Santon, Obertan (Campbell 83), Tiote (Amalfitano 71) , Gutiérrez, Marveaux (Vuckic 46), R Taylor (Perch 28), Shola Ameobi.
HARTLEPOOL 1 NEWCASTLE 5 (Shola Ameobi, Marveaux 2, Obertan, Vuckic)
Harper (Alnwick 82), Simpson (Good 72), Tavernier, Williamson, S.Taylor (Vuckic 46), Perch (R.Taylor 72), Gosling, Amalfitano (Santon 80), Marveaux (Obertan 78), Sh.Ameobi (Ben Arfa 46), Bigirimana (Abeid 59).
DEN HAAG 0 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul; S Taylor (Gosling 65), R Taylor (Perch 71), Coloccini, Santon (Simpson 80); Obertan (Bigirimana 71), Tiote (Ameobi 71), Vuckic (Williamson 65), Gutierrez; Ba (Amalfitano 82), Cisse
BRAGA 1 NEWCASTLE 2 (Ba, R Taylor)
Harper; Simpson, Tavernier, Coloccini, R.Taylor; Sammy Ameobi (Obertan 88), Tiote (Cabaye 70), Gutierrez, Marveaux; Cisse, Ba (Vuckic 85).
OLYMPIACOS 1 NEWCASTLE 1 (S Taylor)
Krul, Perch, Williamson, S.Taylor (Dummett 46), Santon, Obertan (Sammy Ameobi 72), Bigirimana, Gosling (Abeid 36), Amalfitano, Vuckic, Shola Ameobi (Cisse 72).
FENERBAHCE 1 NEWCASTLE 1 (Abeid)
Elliot, Simpson (Santon 68), Tavernier, Coloccini, R Taylor, Tiote (Bigirimana 59), Gosling (Abeid 73), Obertan (Shola Ameobi 75), Marveuax (Gutierrez 59), Vuckic (Sammy Ameobi 46), Ba (Cisse 68).
MONACO 0 NEWCASTLE 1 (Ba)
Harper, Santon (Ryan Taylor 57), Simpson, Williamson (Perch 46), Gutierrez, Amalfitano (Obertan 62), Abeid (Tavernier 46), Bigirimana (Tiote 62), Sammy Ameobi (Vuckic 46), Shola Ameobi (Gosling 62), Ba (Marveaux 78)
CHEMNITZER 1 NEWCASTLE 0
Elliot; Tavernier (Simpson, 70), Williamson, Perch, R Taylor (Santon, 70); Obertan (Gutierrez, 77), Abeid (Bigirimana, 70), Gosling, Amalfitano; Vuckic (Shola Ameobi, 70), Sammy Ameobi (Ba, 77). Sub not used: Harper.
NEWCASTLE'S LAST GAME ...
FULHAM 2 NEWCASTLE 1
FULHAM: 1. Mark Schwarzer 27. Sascha Riether 18. Aaron Hughes 5. Brede Hangeland 3. John Arne Riise 16. Damien Duff 6. Chris Baird 7. Steve Sidwell 31. Alex Kacaniklic 62' 20. Hugo Rodallega 86' 9. Dimitar Berbatov
Subs: 38. Neil Etheridge 4. Philippe Senderos 10. Mladen Petric 86' 14. Giorgos Karagounis 15. Kieran Richardson 19. Mahamadou Diarra 24. Ashkan Dejagah 62'
NEWCASTLE: 1. Tim Krul 5. Danny Simpson 2. Fabricio Coloccini 6. Mike Williamson 3. Davide Santon 18. Jonas Gutierrez 24. Cheick Tiote 86' 8. Vurnon Anita 86' 10. Hatem Ben Arfa 70' 9. Papiss Cisse 19. Demba Ba
Subs: 37. Steve Harper 14. James Perch 20. Gael Bigirimana 86' 22. Sylvain Marveaux 86' 23. Shola Ameobi 70' 31. Shane Ferguson 34. James Tavernier
I'm not going to jump on the bandwagon - like most of this morning's press - and say we are heading for the deepest bowels of Hell, because I thought the side put in a performance full of fight. And that is more important than crying over what could have been.
They never gave up, and if only Alan Pardew had got the system right - and Colo's shot was two inches nearer Mark Schwarzer - we would have come away with something.
I'm not saying we deserved to win, but we were in this contest from the first minute to the last.
Fulham ended their long wait for a win as Hugo Rodallega's header proved the difference between the two sides at Craven Cottage.
The Colombian's goal ensured their winless streak would not stretch to an eighth match.
Fulham came into the game without a victory since mid-October but got off to the start we didn't want when Steve Sidwell's 19th-minute strike deflected off Mike Williamson and looped in.
It was the Cottagers' first goal in 317 minutes and they would have had several more was it not for some poor finishing and the fine form of goalkeeper Tim Krul.
Newcastle, though, were always a threat going forward and Sascha Riether twice cleared off the line, before the returning Hatem Ben Arfa drew the visitors level in the 54th minute with a superb effort.
However, Fulham were not to be denied and, nine minutes after the Magpies had drawn parity, Rodallega headed home a free-kick by former United midfielder Damien Duff to secure the hosts all three points.
The Whites made five changes for Monday night's game and started brightly, with off-balance winger Alex Kacaniklic putting wide after just 55 seconds.
It was the first of a number of early Fulham half chances, although the Magpies soon settled.
After a few warning shots, Papiss Cisse collected a poor Mark Schwarzer clearance and came close to finding Demba Ba.
The chance seemed to jolt Fulham into life and Rodallega came close with an acrobatic strike after collecting a ball from Duff.
The pair linked up again in the 19th minute as Fulham ended their goal drought as the latter pulled back for Sidwell, whose strike took a deflection off Williamson and looped over Krul.
After waiting more than five hours for a goal, Fulham fans almost got to witness two in as many minutes.
Dimitar Berbatov cut out a weak Cheick Tiote pass and burst past Fabricio Coloccini at the halfway line, only for Krul to thwart the Fulham frontman when through on goal.
The former Manchester United striker was again denied by Krul in the 29th minute.
After only managing to palm a fierce Riether cross into the path of Berbatov, the Netherlands international did well to recover and deny the Bulgarian before Williamson cleared.
It begun a spell of Newcastle pressure that saw them come close to levelling in the 31st minute, with Riether having to clear a powerful Coloccini header from the edge of the box off the line.
Newcastle were again cursing the German right-back on the stroke of half-time when he again denied them on the line, with Ba the man frustrated this time.
The visitors continued in the ascendancy when the second half resumed, with Anita - managed by Fulham's Martin Jol during the pair's time at Ajax - flashed a 47th-minute strike just over the bar.
Berbatov fired into the side-netting when Fulham returned to the attack, before Schwarzer looked on as Ben Arfa struck a 54th-minute equaliser.
The Frenchman marked his return to the starting line-up after four games out with a goal from 22 yards that curled in off the crossbar.
The strike took a slight deflection off John Arne Riise but Schwarzer arguably should have done better, raising further questions about the Australian after a few mistakes of late.
Opposite number Krul was having no such problems and did well to deny Sidwell as he searched for a second.
The Netherlands international was soon beaten, though, as Duff floated in a cross from the right and Rodallega nodded home unmarked from six yards.
Berbatov saw penalty appeals waved away soon after the 63rd-minute header, before Fulham sat back and waited for chances on the counter-attack.
Coloccini flicked clear as Berbatov threatened, before the Newcastle captain saw an exquisite curled strike hit the crossbar at the other end.
Substitute Shola Ameobi, Ba and Jonas Gutierrez were all denied by Schwarzer as United pushed for a leveller, before Aaron Hughes blocked a late Ba strike.
Berbatov was denied a goal as the game came to a close and substitute Mladen Petric fired close from distance.