Alan Pardew Expects 'Serious Conversations' with Mike Ashley Over Newcastle United Future

Alan Pardew is expecting "serious conversations" with Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley this week after his side fell to another Premier League defeat.

A 1-0 defeat to Stoke City sees the Magpies remain second from bottom having managed just three points from their opening six games of the season.

It continues a miserable run of just one win in their last 20 league games that stretches back to March, a situation that has left Pardew's future at the club in severe doubt.

Ashley was in the stands surrounded by supporters calling for the manager's dismissal during Monday's defeat at the Britannia Stadium but Pardew, who signed an eight-year contract at St James' Park in 2012, insists he is still capable of leading the club.

He told Sky Sports: "It leaves us in the bottom three. We've got to fight, I've got to fight and the team's got to fight and that's what we'll continue to do until we turn it round.

"I don't expect a serious conversation with Mike Ashley tonight but I think we'll have some serious conversations before Saturday, because he doesn't want to lose and nor do I.

"It's important that I showed to the team that I'm here to lead.

"I've never really been in this situation before - it's unique - but I'm a professional football manager. That's what I do, and that's what I'll continue to do."

Peter Crouch's first half header proved to be enough to heap more misery on Newcastle and Pardew although they could have perhaps saved a point when Jack Colback struck the bar late on.

"That's been our problem probably for most of the season really [the final third letting them down]," Pardew added.

"We've got to find a little bit more quality there. Our delivery, our method a little bit let us down in that area. We're going to need to make a couple of changes I think to the starting 11 to give ourselves a bit more thrust.

"We just need something in that final area, someone to create the moment. We've had a few chances tonight. Unfortunately tonight we weren't able to get that."