Souness defiant despite criticism

Souness' team has won only twice in the past 10 league games

Newcastle manager Graeme Souness said he had no intention of leaving the club after fans barracked him following the Magpies' 1-0 home defeat by Blackburn.

Angry fans protested after the team's fourth loss in five Premiership games.

"I will say this once: The priority in my life is my family, to always do the very best for them," said Souness.

"The second most important thing is my work, to do the very best at my job, whoever's employing me. I'll continue to do that until I'm told differently."

Report: Newcastle 0-1 Blackburn

Mounted police had to disperse hundreds of protesting supporters outside St James' Park following the match, which was won by Morten Gamst Pedersen's disputed second-half goal, which appeared to go in off the Norwegian's hand.

Defeat left Newcastle languishing in 14th place, with only two wins in the past 10 Premiership games.

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The Magpies are currently seven points above Birmingham City, who occupy the final relegation spot, well shy of the top-six finish demanded by chairman Freddy Shepherd.

But skipper Alan Shearer insisted that the players remained supportive of the manager.

"It is hard because it looks as if Blackburn's goal is handball," he said.

"But that is the way things are going for us at the moment but we have got to stick together and work hard."