Newcastle manager Alan Pardew hits back at his critics - Telegraph.co.uk

“In these games, and in your managerial career there are these setbacks, they are not nice. For us it is done, it is history and we have to carry it like they have to with all the defeats we have inflicted on them.

"We put ourselves in danger by being in the quarter-finals. I could have had huge criticism if I’d put a weakened team out against Benfica and I decided not to do that.”

Despite Pardew's prickly reaction to criticism – it has also been pointed out that only Reading have taken fewer points away from home than Newcastle this season – he accepted he had to come away from West Bromwich Albion with a positive result.

“It’s very important that we respond in terms of our performance level,” he said. “I don’t worry about that. I think my team is in much better shape than it was for Sunday.

“This week there is no excuse. We’ve had the same amount of time as West Brom and hopefully that will be shown on the pitch.

“I was told about this club and the extremes here. I don’t think we have reacted to the criticism we’ve had, we’ve accepted it, we know what we think is wrong and we need to put it right.

"I do think one or two things that have been said are a bit harsh and unfair. I thought some of it was over the top.”

Pardew all but confirmed that Newcastle are set to make a second attempt to re-sign Andy Carroll from Liverpool in the summer when he admitted the lack of aerial power up front “is an area we’re going to focus on in the summer”.

Di Canio is yet to respond to Pardew’s mocking comments, but he is making his presence felt in the North East. The Italian has banned all days off midweek at Sunderland and does not care if his pampered stars moan about it.

“Don’t say that it puts you under pressure and you feel more heavy and can’t run on a Saturday,” said Di Canio.

“It gives you more opportunity to improve tactically, technically and physically. The psychologists and the sports science people say, ‘we need Wednesday off because too much pressure.’ Pressure? What pressure?

"Why not work harder to have more days smiling? Because if you work more it doesn’t mean more physically, it can be a simple tactical or technical session to improve things on the field.”