Monday 29 September 2014 20:00, UK
Stoke boss Mark Hughes says the critics will only get off Alan Pardew’s back if Newcastle start winning games.
Hughes pits his wits against Newcastle counterpart Pardew at the Britannia Stadium on Monday night, live on Sky Sports.
Newcastle owner Mike Ashley was reported to have said Pardew would be sacked if United lose at the Britannia, though he later claimed the comments were a joke.
The focus on big clubs is always there and the only way you can deal with it, to take that focus off you as a manager, is by winning football matches and if you don't there is a negative focus.
Pardew has brushed off the incident, but with his side second from bottom of the Premier League, he goes into the match under intense pressure.
Hughes knows how he feels, having gone through the same level of scrutiny whilst he was manager at Manchester City.
"A lot of people don't know the reason why certain things have occurred or why there hasn't been a good performance," said the Welshman.
"There are always other things people outside the immediate group don't know about and you know yourself you can't go out and say, 'well, these are the reasons'.
"So you have to protect yourself, your position and your club sometimes from situations and sometimes that's to the detriment of yourself.
"It's not easy because there is more focus on you as a club and you, as the figurehead in terms of football. It goes with the territory and you have to deal with it.
"The focus on big clubs is always there and the only way you can deal with it, to take that focus off you as a manager, is by winning football matches and if you don't there is a negative focus."
Hughes has also laughed off comments from City boss Manuel Pellegrini after he described the Potters as a "small team".
Pellegrini was left annoyed by Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho's tactics in last Sunday's 1-1 draw between the sides at the Etihad Stadium.
Having been beaten at home by Stoke three weeks previously, the Chilean held up Chelsea and the Potters for comparison, seemingly belittling both clubs.
Describing the match with Chelsea, Pellegrini said: "It was very similar to the Stoke team, with a big team playing against a small team with very good players, trying to defend, trying to keep the score (0-0)."
However, Hughes said: "I think everybody understood what he meant.
"We didn't take any umbrage with it, as criticism of ourselves. It was more the Manchester City manager's take on how he thought one of the top teams went up against his side.
"On the day they were gracious in defeat, which sometimes doesn't happen with big clubs. But I felt we fully deserved the victory and they said so."
Watch Stoke take on Newcastle live on Sky Sports 1 with coverage from 7pm on Monday.
