Alan Pardew bemoans defensive inconsistency

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has said that his team are struggling for consistency following yesterday's 3-2 defeat at home to Hull City.

The 52-year-old said that he can see traces of the team that finished fifth the season before last - a feat which earned him an eight-year contract at St James' Park.

However, the former Southampton coach said that his defence is not always performing to task, although he gave due credit to the Tigers.

"The team that finished fifth, you see similarities with this team," Pardew told reporters. "But that team had a consistency about it of performance as a team.

"All three goals were poor from us. We looked too loose and gifted goals, and you can't do that against any opposition. We have defended really, really well in these last few weeks, and today... It's the consistency of performance that this team is searching for.

"Hull, I'll be the first to pay tribute to them because they played very well, I must say that, but for us, it was a really disappointing day."

The Magpies have two wins, two defeats and a draw from their five Premier League games so far.