Allardyce adamant he is the man for Newcastle

 Newcastle have taken just one point from their last four games - and that in a game in which they were outplayed by Sunderland - leading to widespread dissatisfaction among fans.

 Chairman Chris Mort publicly backed his manager this week, but Allardyce insisted he is the man for the job.

 "Just because somebody writes it in the papers, I should not be ringing or chasing the chairman or the owner to seek assurances over my position," he said.

 "My position is safe if I get results; my position is not safe if I lose football matches. It has never been any different anywhere else, not here, not at Bolton, not anywhere.

 "I would not have lasted eight years at Bolton if I did not get results, so it is no different anywhere you go."

   Newcastle are at least higher in the league than either of their north-east rivals.

 Sunderland, in third-bottom, face a relegation battle against bottom side Derby, while Middlesbrough are at Reading, who are also struggling.

 For Derby, who have won just once this season, this will be their first game under new manager Paul Jewell, while Sunderland are trying to fight back after last Saturday's 7-1 mauling at Everton.

 "To defend as poorly as we did was a major blow and we have got to react in a positive way," said manager Roy Keane.

 "In defence of the players, I picked the wrong team. Even at 4-1 and 5-1 down, we were attacking and we left ourselves wide open, and I have to take full responsibility. That's what being a manager is about."

   Jewell, meanwhile, is relishing the challenge, while insisting he is not just a specialist at avoiding relegation.

 "I have been in two relegation scraps with Bradford and Wigan but we don't need snookers yet so we are not adrift," he said.

 Second-bottom Wigan Athletic, themselves in their first game under Steve Bruce, are at home to high-flying Manchester City, while the other debutant manager, Alex McLeish, leads his Birmingham side into an away game at Tottenham Sunday.

 At the top, Arsenal face a tea-time trip to Aston Villa, who climbed to sixth this week as they eat Blackburn 4-0 - their fourth straight win.

 Chelsea host West Ham, Liverpool are at home to Bolton on Sunday, meaning Manchester United could theoretically be fifth and six points off the top by the time they face Fulham on Monday.

DPA