The former West Ham manager replaced Chris Hughton at St James' Park to a mixed reaction from the home fans and the media.

He quickly silenced everyone, though, with a superb first season that saw the Magpies narrowly miss out on clinching a UEFA Champions League spot.

Spearheaded by Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse, the side's electric run saw Pardew named Manager of the Year by the League Managers' Association.

However, this season Newcastle have flirted with the relegation places while they have criss-crossed Europe in the UEFA Europa League.

Pardew's struggling team face Arsenal at home on Sunday in a crucial clash, which Arsene Wenger's side need to win to confirm UEFA Champions League football for next season.

The 51-year-old said: "I have been here two and a half years and I have probably experienced every emotion you could go through - and that was in the first six weeks.

"Sometimes the sensationalism of it all is frustrating as the manager.

"When we do really well, there's a real over the top reaction and then when it goes the other way, it's the reverse.

"We have to accept that that's how it is going to be at this football club and be able to deal with it.

"But this year has taught us how to deal with that side of it when the criticism comes, that we need to really batten down the hatches and make sure we get a result whichever way it is to get us back on a run."