Monday 6 October 2014 10:11, UK
Unrelenting crowd protests over Alan Pardew’s managerial reign at Newcastle are damaging the team, says striker Papiss Cisse.
Cisse scored twice against Swansea on Satruday to earn Newcastle a valuable point while also saving Pardew from coming under further fire.
However, Pardew still had to run the gauntlet of angry Newcastle supporters in south Wales as he faced further calls for his dismissal following a dreadful start to the season which has yet to see the Magpies win a league game.
"Yes, I know this moment is not easy for him," Cisse said later of Pardew's predicament.
"The team don't think about that one (protests) because the players just play.
"It is for the gaffer, but it's not good for the team.
My one objective is to come back and score my goals. This is my job and I'm happy to score four goals in three games.
"It's not easy for the players because it is the player playing the game.
"You have to believe in yourself and believe in the team.
"You have to keep going and work hard and maybe one day it will come good."
Pardew shrugged off further speculation about his future at Swansea by insisting he would simply turn his attention to the next game after the international break, at home to Leicester on October 18.
But Pardew will be grateful for the timely return of Cisse who started his first game since fracturing a patella in April after previously making two substitute appearances this season.
The Senegal striker repeated his two-goal show against Hull on September 20 when he came on for the final 20 minutes.
Cisse has now scored more Premier League goals than during the whole of last season, when he was very much in the shadow of the on-loan Loic Remy.
"It's just like I woke up for this because at the moment I'm enjoying my football," Cisse said.
"My one objective is to come back and score my goals. This is my job and I'm happy to score four goals in three games.
"The Premier League is not easy, it is very, very hard.
"But we just have to keep going because it's not finished yet and it can come good for us.
"I know this is not three points, but one point in Swansea is not bad and we will hard to get up the table."
