Alan Pardew: 'Newcastle United have to deliver'

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has warned his players that there can be no more excuses ahead of their Premier League clash with Hull City on Saturday.

The pressure has been piled on Pardew due to Newcastle's poor form at the start of the season, and he is demanding a response from his side as some supporters prepare to protest his position at the club following the 4-0 defeat to Southampton last week.

"I don't know about patience, this is a time to stand up and deliver really," the Magpies boss told reporters. "Saturday is an important game for us because we've had a difficult start.

"Even if we'd got a point it would have been an okay start because I think we've had some tough games.

"But now we have a game at home where the pressure is really going to be on us. We have to deliver."

Newcastle have collected two points from their opening four games this season.