Alan Pardew has admitted that he is expecting a better performance from Newcastle United in the Tyne-Wear derby this weekend.
The Magpies have lost their last three matches against Sunderland, with their local rivals beating them 3-0 on their last two visits to St James' Park.
The manager told the Northern Echo: "I think [the three defeats] are games where we made mistakes, although the intensity of the last performance by Sunderland was greater and I don't think that will be the case on Sunday.
"This is a different team, even though there are a number of players who were involved in the fixture last season. The intensity we need from all 11 players, we didn't have last time. But I don't fear that this time around, and that gives us a better chance of winning the game.
"We've got to make sure we don't make errors, but I would also say that in the last game, their intensity was better than ours. But we've got different personnel now, and a different mood, and I think we can match that. If we do, we'll have a good chance of winning."
Newcastle have won just one in their last five outings in all competitions.
Sian Cowper
