Alan Pardew calls for home improvement

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has described his side's recent home form as "unacceptable".

The Magpies go into Thursday's Europa League meeting with Maritimo at St James' Park having lost their last two matches on home turf.

"We have lost two home games and that's not acceptable for us. We need to make sure we win tomorrow, and it would also give us qualification, so it's a big night for us," said Pardew.

Newcastle got their Europa League campaign underway with a 0-0 draw against Maritimo in Portugal in September.