Sunderland boss Gus Poyet says Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley deserves credit for backing Alan Pardew.

But Poyet will turn up the heat on Pardew once more this weekend, if Sunderland can inflict a fourth successive derby defeat on the Magpies.

"I've got no doubt that it shows the value of patience," he said. "I don't think any team at the bottom has been as bad as they were last season either.

"We didn't have a team with one point after eight games [like Sunderland last season], or four points from 11 games like Palace [last season].

"We've not seen a team that has really been bottom of the league, adrift from the rest. Everyone is there together and that makes things a bit easier. I think it [the lack of sackings] is nice as well.

"In the lower leagues, there have been too many.

"It's true that it's common sense. If you want to create something you need time.

"But I understand the other side of the coin. You cannot have time if something is so bad!"