Pardew Plots Cardiff Revenge

By Tom Easterby

Alan Pardew is planning on dishing out a healthy dose of revenge ahead of Saturday's Barclays Premier League home game against Cardiff City (3pm kick-off).

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's strugglers emerged from St. James' Park with a 2-1 win in an FA Cup third round tie in January to dash the Magpies' hopes of lifting a domestic trophy for another season.

But now, with the 2013/14 campaign just over a week away from completion, Pardew wants his side to channel the passionate support his team will receive into a welcome three points from their final home game.

"My vision of this game is that it's going to be an encounter that there is going to be real passion on the pitch," explained the United boss.

"And I think that's something that needs to be controlled from both sets of players, to make sure that we both end up with 11 players at the end and that the best team wins.

"(The FA Cup game) was a big blow for us because we were in control of the game and the substitutions made a big impact for Cardiff.

"Sometimes they really work out for you and they did on that particular occasion, and we lost a game we were desperate to win.

"You can't angle form or anything from one particular game so I don't see that, but what I do see is hopefully us gaining a bit of revenge for that defeat."

Pardew, who will be back in the home dugout on Saturday for the first time since February's win over Aston Villa, is adamant that the Club's poor recent run of form will not hinder his side's performance on Saturday, and reinforced his determination to secure a long-awaited victory for the supporters.

"I think the thing that we're very much focussed on on Saturday is trying to get the Club to go forward in terms of a victory," he said.

"And the first 20 minutes, the first period of the game, is going to be important that we get ourselves a good base to the game.

"We've got some experienced players, and whether the pressure's coming on me or the Club, it's not what we want, but we have to be big enough and bold enough to cope with it.

"I am very proud to be manager of Newcastle and I always have been, and I'll fight for that position because I love being manager here and I know recent results have not been good enough and I hope we improve on those in the last two.

"On Saturday, I'm hoping that we give it our best performance for the fans, who deserve it.

"I think it will be a great watch for a neutral, and hopefully for Newcastle fans too."

A small number of tickets still remain for Saturday's Barclays Premier League fixture against Cardiff City. To secure your seat at St. James' Park, click here.