Alan Pardew expects Newcastle United response to Southampton defeat

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has claimed that he expects his players to respond following the 4-0 defeat to Southampton last weekend.

Pardew's side take on Manchester United this Saturday, and he believes that the squad do not need any extra encouragement to produce an improved performance against the Premier League champions.

"I'm not urging anything other than my players putting in a better performance," the Newcastle boss told reporters.

"That is the most important thing because you get disappointments in the Premier League and we've had them before.

"As a professional, you've got to accept you get beaten and sometimes, it's a bloody long way away and you have to accept responsibility as a group and put it right and that's what I hope to see on Saturday."

Newcastle are currently ninth in the table, eight points behind United.