Pardew pursuing defensive reinforcements

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew said he is looking for defensive cover in the aftermath of Saturday’s demoralising 5-2 loss to Fulham.

The visitors to Craven Cottage took the lead in the opening period after a dominant display but were stunned as Fulham hit four goals in a 20-minute spell after half-time.

The Magpies boss went into the transfer window with an eye to hiring a centre-back following Steven Taylor’s extended layoff with a ruptured Achilles tendon.

His side’s struggle to cope with the pace of Fulham’s quick breaks prompted questions over whether a new signing could be added to the starting XI.

When asked about changing his back four however, Pardew told The Journal: “I wouldn’t want to.”

“We want to bring a defender in, that’s what I’ve said and we’ll try and do that if we can because we have no cover. If we had an injury at centre-half, we’re going to look vulnerable.”

The centre-back pairing of Fabricio Coloccini and Mike Williamson have only regular right-back Danny Simpson and the versatile James Perch as cover, with only two other experienced defenders in the squad in the form of full-backs Ryan Taylor and Davide Santon.

“The phone will be switched on and I’ll be monitoring the transfer window,” Pardew added.

He went on to draw a line under the defeat, instead looking ahead to Saturday’s FA Cup match away at Brighton.

“We’ve got a great squad and we’re looking now to the FA Cup. There’s nothing we can do about Saturday, it’s gone, but we’ve got to make sure we get through the FA Cup.”

“I was just disappointed, disappointed for them. Really there’s not many times I’ve been disappointed as the manager of this team this season.”