Papiss Cissé: It’s not just the gaffer, it’s all of us, but we will come good

Striker tries to ease pressure on Pardew

(Getty)

Papiss Cissé has told Newcastle United’s discontented supporters that manager Alan Pardew is not solely to blame for the club’s poor start to the season.

Newcastle remain in the Premier League’s bottom three, off the foot of the table only on goal difference, and have won just five of their last 28 games. But Cissé, who has four goals in three games since returning from a fractured kneecap, feels it is unfair for Pardew to be singled out.

He said: “It’s a very difficult time for the team. The fans are not happy and that’s football. This moment is not easy for the manager, and it’s not easy for the players either. But it’s about belief and working hard together and one day maybe we will come good.

“The team does not think about how things are right now. It is not just about the gaffer, it is all of us.”

Pardew’s players showed no lack of fight on his behalf as they twice came from behind at the Liberty Stadium.

Wilfried Bony’s first goal of the season, after smart, measured build-up play, had given Swansea the lead and increased the volume of the vitriol directed at Pardew, but Cissé’s brilliant near-post finish sent Newcastle in level at the interval.

Former Newcastle winger Wayne Routledge, teed up by Gylfi Sigurdsson, restored Swansea’s lead only for Cissé to strike again, turning in Sammy Ameobi’s cross from close range 15 minutes from time.

Cissé has now already matched his goal tally for last season and, with Loïc Rémy having moved on, the Senegal striker is desperate to make the most of his opportunity.

He has told his manager – and warned Premier League defenders – that he is only going to get better.

“I’m not on fire,” he said. “I am not back to my best.

“I’m just working hard at the moment. I got an opportunity and I scored. I’m just doing my job, I’m happy.

“My knee is strong now. I feel nothing. Sometimes I have to be careful with it, but I don’t have a reaction to [the injury] and it feels good.”

He added: “This is not three points but it is one point – it’s difficult in Swansea so that is good for the team.”