Alan Pardew urges fans to 'keep calm'

Newcastle United mamager Alan Pardew has urged everybody connected with the club to 'keep their calm and dignity' ahead of this afternoon's local derby against Sunderland.

Northumbria Police and the Football Supporters Federation have released a statement which read: "We can keep the passion, but lose the poison. Let's make this a derby to be proud of."

Pardew, echoing those sentiments, told reporters ahead of today's clash: "It sometimes gets a bit carried away. You cannot get away from the fact it is an emotional game, football.

"However, it is behaviour and dignity from everybody on the day which hopefully will stay in place because then we can have a good day's entertainment.

"Hopefully, being Newcastle fans, we win and we accept it in the right manner, as we would defeat."

The Magpies currently occupy eighth place in the Premier League table.