Under-fire Newcastle United football manager Alan Pardew has vowed he will ride out the storm after facing calls for his head following a second successive home derby capitulation against Sunderland on Sunday.
Sunderland completed a run of three consecutive Tyne-Wear league victories for the first time in more than 90 years with a 3-0 win that left the home fans chanting "You're getting sacked in the morning!" at Pardew, who admits it's been a tough week, the defeat "scars the season" and is a "blow that's hard to take."
Newcastle are comfortable in mid-table, and even harbour hopes of securing a Europa League place at the end of the season, however, that aim looks increasingly unlikely given a debilitating run of four straight home defeats that has derailed their season.
And fans unhappy at the $38 million sale of their best player, Yohan Cabaye, to French side Paris Saint-Germain, coupled with the lack of incoming signings, left Pardew in little doubt as to their displeasure after a tough afternoon at St James' Park.
There were three separate pitch incursions by disgruntled supporters as tempers flared, with owner Mike Ashley and director of football Joe Kinnear, both of whom were absent, coming in for most of the vitriol.
Pardew signed a lucrative long-term contract two years ago, tying him to the club until 2020.
He says he can understand the frustration of the fans after losing three in a row to Sunderland and four straight in total as well as selling Cabaye, and having no permanent transfers coming in
Having seen a late move for Lyon midfielder Clement Grenier fail to come off during the January transfer window, Pardew will try to regroup this week ahead of Newcastle's next game, a tough trip to face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
