LONDON (SE) - An under-fire Alan Pardew has called for a response from his floundering Newcastle United side ahead of Sunday's trip to Loftus Road to face relegated Queens Park Rangers.
Newcastle sit tenuously one spot above the drop with 38 points - three more than Wigan Athletic. The Latics do not play in the Premier League this weekend because of their FA Cup final against Manchester City.
Both the Magpies and Latics have a goal differential of minus-23 so the relegation battle will go down to the last day if Newcastle lose to a Rangers side winless in seven games en route to the Championship.
Pardew's future has come into question after signing an eight-year deal before this campaign. His side have been outscored 10-1 in their last four matches, with two draws and two defeats beginning with a 3-0 loss to Sunderland on April 14 in the Tyne-Wear derby.
A final-day matchup with Champions League hopeful Arsenal means that Sunday's contest represents a more likely opportunity for points.
"We're very much aware that the games we've got left are very, very important for this football club - and not just this football club but this city," Pardew told Newcastle's official website.
"The mood of this city is bred off the back of this football club. Since the Sunderland game, I think we've all gone in different directions and the city needs to come together for these last two games, particularly the home game when we play
Newcastle picked up a valuable point in last Saturday's 0-0 draw with West Ham United.
That was at St. James' Park while the Magpies will now try to improve upon a woeful 1-7-10 away mark. The last time Newcastle finished with one away victory over a full season was 1967-68.
It promises to be a festive atmosphere in W12 as Rangers will honour the 30th anniversary of the squad that captured the second-division crown in 1982-83 led by manager Terry Venables.
Current boss Harry Redknapp has said that it won't be easy for the London club to immediately return to the top flight, and he will spend the summer strengthening the squad.
"We need to put a team together to give us a chance to try to get up next year," Redknapp said.
One player who won't be available to Redknapp is Andros Townsend, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur. Townsend has started in his last 10 league appearances.
"He's been great," Redknapp said. "He'll go back to Tottenham a better player for the experience. He's proved now that he can play Premier League football and be a top Premier League player.
Redknapp guided Rangers to one win and three draws in his first four matches in charge of the club before a 1-0 defeat at St. James' Park in the reverse fixture Dec. 22. QPR are winless in their last seven versus Newcastle.
The Rangers boss has tipped Newcastle to survive, noting Wigan's hopes are hampered by their mid-week fixture against Arsenal. Redknapp said he would pick his strongest team Sunday.
Pardew will welcome Mathieu Debuchy back from suspension while Moussa Sissoko and Shola Ameobi have been ruled out for the last two matches.
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