On the evidence of this insipid performance, Newcastle have little left to play for this season – if the club’s supporters had their way boss Alan Pardew would be fighting for his future.

Fight, however, is something his team does not boast at present.

As a consequence, for the first time this season the 2,900 travelling fans sounded their dissent in the direction of the manager, who was seated in the stands serving the sixth game of his seven-match touchline ban for headbutting Hull City’s David Meyler.

‘We want Pardew out’ was the audible accompaniment to the banners which read, ‘No more excuses. No more lies. Pardew out’ and, quite charmingly, ‘Pardew is a muppet’.

Saturday’s game was the first since the club’s new managing director, Lee Charnley, delivered a 1,500-word statement which did nought to rally supporter enthusiasm.

‘We will sign one or two players per year’ was the sorry soundbite soon seized upon by disgruntled followers whose club have not made a permanent addition since January of 2013.

But the criticism of Pardew and calls for him to go have broken new ground, for until now he had played the role of master mediator between owner Mike Ashley and the Toon Army.

‘Of course (I noticed the chants),’ Pardew said afterwards. ‘(I’ve had) Four defeats (in a row) as Newcastle manager.

‘I think their frustration has boiled over a little bit and we need to settle it down.

‘The best way to do that is to get a win and unfortunately it hasn’t come.

‘The only thing you can do is try to get a performance on the pitch which gives you a chance of winning and I thought we were close today.

‘But we lack creative flair and a little bit of ability in and around the box.’

The goal which separated the sides arrived three minutes before the break, the nature of it entirely in keeping with the dearth of quality during the first half. Erik Pieters sized a cross from the left, skewed his delivery and watched in glee as it sailed above and beyond Dutch compatriot Tim Krul.

United had earlier been denied what looked a clear penalty when Geoff Cameron clumsily barged into Papiss Cisse.

And Pardew, whose side are without a goal in six hours, went on: ‘The goal was a bit of a fluke and the wind caught hold of it, which made it almost impossible for Tim to save.

‘But we should have had a penalty and that was a big turning point for us. We need a goal and that would have been a nice opportunity.’

The concession was United’s 12th since they last scored a league goal of their own and sparked the anti-Pardew chants.

Stoke’s victory, meanwhile, takes them to within three points of their ninth-placed opponents.

Austrian wideman Marko Arnautovic terrorised the visitors throughout, twice serving up crosses for Peter Crouch who saw his headers denied a goal – first by a post and then the gloves of Krul.

Potters boss Mark Hughes said: ‘I thought he (Arnautovic) was excellent. We were able to get him in situations where he can show his talent.

‘In terms of his ability to cross the ball on the run he is one of the best I’ve seen do that, it’s a real quality not too many players have.’

—Daily Mail