Stoke will fancy their chances admits Sam!

[BoothenenderGaz]

Stoke will fancy their chances, admits Sam

NEWCASTLE boss Sam Allardyce admitted he is under pressure after seeing his side slip to a third successive Premier League defeat.

The 53-year-old could only look on as his side squandered a promising first-half display to lose 2-0 Manchester City, who ended their wait for a first league win away from Eastlands since the opening day of the season.

Goals from Elano before the break and substitute Gelson Fernandes after it did the damage as the Magpies were stung on the counter-attack.

Newcastle have now taken just nine points from the last 36 they have contested, and although they remain in 11th place in the table, the manager finds himself deep in crisis.

Owner Mike Ashley missed last night's defeat as he enjoyed a winter break, but Sunday's FA Cup third round trip to Coca-Cola Championship Stoke is assuming ever greater importance.

Allardyce knows results have to improve drastically is he is to get the time he needs to turn things around.

Allardyce said: "The support is great, but at the end of the day, the pressure still mounts, it mounts despite that support.

"It mounts on us all, but on me in particular because we have lost a game at St James' Park we should not have lost.

"Now it is three defeats on the trot. The pressure grows because a team like us should not be losing at home, a team like us should not be losing three games on the trot.

"We have got to stick together and believe that how we can play can get us out of trouble. That starts at Stoke."

However, he insists he does not see the trip to the Britannia Stadium as a defining moment in his fledgling reign.

He said: "For me, no. I am not thinking about that side of it at all, but I am not daft enough not to know that I am in the results business and I need to win some football matches.

"That's clear, but I will have to look at the encouraging performances today and at Chelsea and look to get the right decisions from the players at the right times.

"With that and a bit of luck, we can look to be a bit more ruthless in front of goal - but we are creating chances.

"They (Stoke) will fancy it now won't they? They will think we are there for the taking.

"The FA Cup relieves the pressure of the Premier League - it is not the same competition and it is a straight knockout.

"You have got one chance and we have to make sure we take it and not miss the opportunity to get into the next round because that could be a confidence-booster and turn our Premier League performances, which are good, into results. But it is a tough month for us."

After Stoke, the Magpies have to face Manchester United and Arsenal away either side of Bolton's visit to Tyneside with things only getting tougher.

[sportsman]

What a wonderful quote and one that i hope gets said many times in the near future.

'It is a tough month for us, stoke,man utd,Arsenal.'!!!!

[PONTAFCE]

allardyce is shittin it,nake or break for him.Ive heard a runour that he has ask if martins can stay in the country until after the match not sure how true tho?