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Allardyce stays positive ahead of trip to Stoke

Morale in the dressing at rock bottom, fans showing signs of rebellion and a hazardous FA Cup tie on the horizon.

It should be enough to turn Sam Allardyce into a nervous wreck but the Newcastle boss is defiantly accentuating the positive ahead of his side's trip to Championship club Stoke today.

Despite all the evidence to the contrary, Allardyce believes his side can avoid a humiliating defeat at the Britannia Stadium and go on to enjoy a successful season.

If Newcastle are to shake off their problems, Allardyce knows he must convince his players that last month's draw against Arsenal represents their true self, rather than the turgid defeats to Wigan, Chelsea and Manchester City which have plunged the club into their latest crisis.

Allardyce candidly admitted the Newcastle squad's confidence has drained away but his bullish approach to this weekend's test proves he hasn't thrown in the towel just yet.

"I am the first to admit we have had an inconsistent season, but we have shown ourselves eminently capable of top-class performances, which is what makes it all the more annoying that we have too often failed to produce that standard," Allardyce said.

"Which is the real Newcastle United? The one that played excellently against Arsenal at St James' Park in early December and also defeated Spurs and Everton in style, or the one that fell to defeat at Wigan, Reading and Derby? I firmly believe it is the former," he said.

Newcastle's ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory is legendary on Tyneside.

It is 53 years since they last won a domestic trophy and that FA Cup triumph has faded in the memories of all but their oldest supporters.

Allardyce's attempt to end that barren run has been hamstring by injuries but the phrase "careful what you wish for" seems apt as he tries to win the toughest fight of his managerial career.

For years Allardyce hankered after a job at a big club with the potential to win trophies. Now he has exactly that the pressure is proving intense and he could be forgiven wishing he was back out of the limelight at Bolton.

His tactics have confused and frustrated senior players, while the fans remain unconvinced by a manager whose long-ball philosophy is at odds with their purist principles.

In the circumstances, Stoke will pose a tough test.

Tony Pulis' gritty side have risen to fourth in the Championship, the second tier of English soccer, after a 10-match unbeaten run and are in confident mood ahead of their biggest game of the season.

The glory of a major giant-killing should be motivation enough for Stoke but goalkeeper Steve Simonsen has an extra reason to relish the chance of heaping more misery on Newcastle.

Simonsen is a passionate Sunderland fan and would like nothing better than getting the better of his boyhood team's bitter local rivals.

"I think Newcastle are under a little bit of pressure at the moment and they definitely won't fancy coming down to the Britannia Stadium," Simonsen said.
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