Newcastle manager Alan Pardew declares himself "worried"

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew admits he is concerned by Newcastle's form after Fulham handed them a fifth loss in six games. The loss means Newcastle United have yet to win an away game this season and are just four points above the relegation zone. "I'm worried in so much as we are not picking up enough points, that is pretty evident," said Pardew. "The performances against Stoke, Wigan and today have improved, but it is a worry we don't have enough points." Pardew's men have achieved just 17 points from 16 league games this season and sit 14th in the table. Goals from Steve Sidwell and Hugo Rodallega handed Newcastle the sixth defeat in seven visits at Craven Cottage. Manager Alan Pardew was particularly unhappy with his side's defending on Fulham's second goal, when Rodallega head in unmarked from six yards from a Damien Duff free-kick. "Second half we had the game by the scruff of the neck really, the goal was a soft goal," added Pardew. "We gave away a cheap free-kick and then we didn't defend that situation well at all and have come away losing a game we should've got something out of. We just didn't defend it well it I'm honest, we are going to have to be better - we can't concede soft goals at this level. To win that game we needed to score three at Fulham and it is really difficult to do that. Of course it is very, very disappointing because I believe we have an honest set of players and we work on situations and really for us it is a poor goal to concede." Newcastle will face a difficult run of games during the rest of December, with champions Manchester City and Queens Park Rangers at home before facing leaders Manchester United and then Arsenal away from home. Newcastle's next game is on December 15, at home against champions Man City. Here are the odds from Bet365: Newcastle win - 9/2 Draw - 11/4 Man City win - 4/6