Nigel Pearson will again be in charge of Newcastle United for tonight's FA Cup replay against Stoke City.

He said: "I've done this before and I would like to say I don't enjoy it and wouldn't choose it. Ultimately, it means my boss has been removed which I take no pleasure from.

"After Saturday's result our integrity has to be in question. Nobody likes to be on the end of that sort of result. It hurts.

"The removal of the manager has different implications. We've had very little stability and I for one am disappointed that's the case. We were working in a regime where we hoped to see out a difficult spell and come out the other side.

"There have been a lot of very important foundations laid at this club in six to eight months and so in that sense it's difficult. Someone else coming in will have different ideas and do things differently. At some point the club has to have a spell of stability. My feelings on my future are basically irrelevant. I know it sounds blunt but I'm not even thinking about that right now. It's about getting through this next period."