Source: PA
Pardew demands focus for Hammers test
Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has ordered his players to have no mercy as he attempts to end his former club West Ham's recovery.
The Magpies eased themselves six points clear of the Barclays Premier League drop zone with Sunday's 1-0 win at Wigan, and head into Wednesday night's clash with the Hammers at St James' Park knowing a repeat would edge them closer to the finishing line in their fight for top-flight survival.
However, while their successes to date this season include four away victories - one of them at Upton Park in October and others at Everton and Arsenal - and home wins over Aston Villa, Sunderland and Liverpool, they have too often slipped up against sides they would have expected to beat.
Blackpool, Stoke and Blackburn have all won on Tyneside, and that is a trend Pardew knows must end if they are to avoid a late scramble for their lives.
He said: "It would be really nice to do that because they are very, very important games. It's all well and good beating the top sides on your showboat kind of day, but these are the games which determine your season.
"It's a big game for us and I am pretty sure that the guys will be in a good frame of mind to play it. We should get confidence from Sunday because it was a really good performance."
