NEWCASTLE United goalkeeper Shay Given has issued a plea for patience to anxious fans as the Magpies chase their first Premiership win this season.

Given, battling to shake off a nagging knee injury ahead of tomorrow's crucial home game against Bolton Wanderers, knows victory is vital to ease mounting pressure at St. James' Park.

United finished third last season as they booked a Champions League third qualifying-round spot.

But Sir Bobby Robson's side are now third bottom after picking up only two points from their opening four top-flight outings - and a place in the Champions League proper has eluded them.

The catastrophic sudden-death penalty shoot-out defeat by Partizan Belgrade three weeks ago has left the Geordie legions in a state of shock.

Robson, whose ability to build on the success of the last two seasons is being questioned in certain quarters, has denied talk of damaging dressing-room rifts.

While acknowledging unease among fans, Given insists Newcastle are genuinely united as they seek to reassert themselves.

The Republic of Ireland international said: "We haven't had the best of starts to the season - we don't need to be told that.

"I know the fans are stressed out about things and I totally understand that.

"But the players know that a victory on Saturday could start us off on a good run to help us move away from the wrong end of the table.

"We're confident in our ability and we know we haven't become a bad team overnight.

"The mood is still good among the players and, while there's pressure on us to do well, the lads can't really let that affect them.

"We'll just be patient as a team and, hopefully, the fans will be patient as well.''

Newcastle made a similarly poor start last season, collecting just four points from their first five games before emerging briefly as title contenders.

Given added: "We had a bad start and then went on a tremendous run, particularly here at St. James', and ended up finishing third.''

Bolton boss Sam Allardyce, meanwhile, has defensive worries and yesterday revealed that he has taken two players on trial in a desperate bid to find cover for the injured Florent Laville.

Allardyce even admitted he failed in an attempt to persuade 37-year-old Icelander Gudni Bergsson, Wanderers' former skipper, to rejoin the club until the end of the season.

Laville is expected to be out for six months after suffering cruciate knee ligament damage in last Saturday's 2-0 home win over Middlesbrough.

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