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Under-pressure Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has said the "mass hysteria" about his future at the club is affecting his players.
Speculation about the 53-year-old's future reached fever pitch last Saturday off the back of a 4-0 thumping by his former club Southampton and a planned anti-Pardew protest this weekend for the visit of Hull City means there will be no hiding place.
Pardew said the situation is becoming so uncomfortable that he is concerned his players are not being allowed to do their jobs.
"The situation at the moment is almost like mass hysteria," said Pardew. "It has really gone to a level which makes it really difficult for the players to perform in.
"I'm hoping we can turn that around. I don't expect it to be easy."
Pardew said he was irked by suggestions he did not care enough about recent results because he is sat on a big contract but insisted he was hurting and is determined to try and turn the club's position around.
"It has been suggested that I don't care about this position as I've got a long contract and I'm going through the motions," he added.
"Nothing could be further from the truth. I was absolutely sick after the game on Saturday [the 4-0 defeat at Southampton].
"The performance we put in was just not worthy of this football club and that I blame on myself more than the players.
"I have been accused of not taking responsibility for the defeat at Southampton and I think that's because I won't criticise the players.
"I try never to criticise players, even ones I've fallen out with.
"And I have fallen out with more than one player here."
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