I'm fighting to save my job at Newcastle, admits Allardyce

Ashley has witnessed Newcastle's miserable last month from the stands and close to Allardyce's first-half seat at St James' Park.

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But he was also present for the club's best Premier League start in more than 10 years when his leather seat in the directors' box was much more comfortable than it is now.

Ashley will be hoping for a shock victory against league leaders Arsenal on Wednesday. In a previous incarnation, Allardyce has relished his meetings with Arsene Wenger and his side, who appeared to have some allergy to playing his robust Bolton team. On Wednesday, even Allardyce has no idea which Newcastle will turn up.

But it cannot be any worse than the two sides who surrendered to Portsmouth and Liverpool with such horrendous consequences. Newcastle conceded seven goals in their last two home games and the pressure has mounted on Allardyce, with Alan Shearer the popular choice to replace him.

Former Bolton boss Allardyce has accepted he is fighting for his job. A heavy defeat tomorrow, and another home reverse against Birmingham and new manager Alex McLeish on Saturday, and his days look numbered, although there is no suggestion from anyone close to Ashley that Allardyce has only these two games to save his job.

Allardyce said: 'I saw Mike Ashley after the game on Saturday, shook hands and had a good chat with him. I hope that shows the strength of the relationship we've got.

'There's no point beating about the bush. Yes, I'm under the cosh and yes, I've got to get results at this club sooner rather than later. Yes, we're having a bad time in terms of results, but it can be turned around as quickly as it's gone bad.

'It didn't look like it was going to go so bad, did it? We beat Tottenham comfortably at the end of October, we got back-to-back wins and everything might not have been rosy, but it looked better than I might have imagined.

'We were still shipping and conceding silly goals, but we were overcoming that with our firepower and giving ourselves a cushion. I was always saying to the players that it might catch up with us eventually if we didn't put that right and it certainly has now.'

Allardyce looked in relaxed mood at Newcastle's training ground on Monday. Although his side lost again at Blackburn on Saturday, there were signs of encouragement from his beleaguered players.

The impressive away support at Ewood Park also went out of their way to back the manager and his players, but a bigger test will come at St James' Park tomorrow. Home matches have been blighted by unrest, jeering and early exits, but Allardyce says he is comfortable with the battle on his hands.

'I feel very well, to be honest,' he said. 'Maybe I don't feel very good because the burden lies on me more than anyone else, because that's the nature of the job, but I'm old enough and wise enough to not reflect that in everyday life.

'You've got to believe in what's right and wrong and I know what's right to consistently get positive results. At the moment that's not working for several reasons we can't point to. If you keep saying the same things, people look upon it as an excuse, but it is a reality.

'We've got to overcome it and the players' belief is something I have to reinforce. That's not going to be done by me walking around looking miserable or screaming and shouting. That's the last thing they need at the moment. They need constructive criticism and positive attitudes. That will get them back to positive performances on a regular basis.'

This week's talks with Ashley and chairman Chris Mort will centre on the January transfer window rather than on when P45s will be handed out to Allardyce and his extensive coaching staff.

It may not be only about incoming players. Middlesbrough are hovering, with Shola Ameobi and Steve Harper in their sights, and Allardyce may be prepared to do business to prove to the new owners he can generate as well as spend cash.