Newcastle manager Alan Pardew believes that a loss to QPR in Saturday’s Premier League encounter could lead to fear of relegation.

The Magpies have endured a tough start to the campaign, with the act of balancing Europa League football and domestic games weighing heavy on the squad.

This has seen the St James’ Park outfit slip down to 15th position, just two points from the relegation zone.

Pardew believes that their weekend clash with second-bottom QPR could be a tricky one:

“We’re going to have a lot of pressure this week,” he is quoted by The Mirror.

“QPR will be expected to lose, so they can come and play with a little bit of freedom – but not us.

“We’re going to have to play under monster pressure.

“The fans need to be right on our side, whatever happens – even if QPR go 2-0 up.”

Newcastle face back-to-back trips to Manchester United and Arsenal before hosting Everton in the coming weeks, and Pardew feels that points must be won ahead of this tricky set of fixtures:

“It’s going to be one of those days when we must win,

“Usually, people say it’s a must-win game – but I’m telling you it’s must-win.

"That’s what we need to do.

“We’ve always been about the next game. It’s the next game because that’s the only thing that you can legislate for. Already, I’m looking forward to it and it can’t come soon enough.”