ALAN PARDEW was left to rue another disallowed goal which could prove to be crucial in Newcastle United's battle against relegation from the Premier League.
The Magpies drew 0-0 at West Ham on Saturday but Papiss Cisse saw a first-half effort cleared by the Hammers' Winston Reid, which replays showed to be over the line.
Pardew felt that the decision, like the offside call made against Cisse in the 3-0 defeat to Sunderland three weeks ago, was a "mental blow" to his team, who sit in 16th place, three points ahead of Wigan, who face Swansea City tomorrow night.
Pardew said: "Unfortunately, I've had a season where most incidents have gone against me. We had a perfectly good goal against Sunderland at 1-0 chalked off.
"We've got to try to keep our minds together that we can ride all of that and get through the season.
"It's a bit of a mental blow. You've got a perfectly good goal. And goals change games, they do. They change the mentality of games.
"I'm still smarting from the Sunderland goal that we got to make it one-all. People think that games don't change with goals, they do, massively. It would have been massive for us to get a goal on Saturday."
Newcastle's failure to win, Wigan's ability to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat and Aston Villa's win at free-falling Norwich City have placed Pardew's side in a precarious position a point above Sunderland, who face Stoke City tonight.
Victory against QPR on Saturday would represent a huge stride towards safety, and Pardew is adamant it is a "win at all costs" game.
"It's very important all year that we stay focused, with whatever team we've had to put out," said Pardew.
"We've had to put out some weakened teams this year and we've been strong in most games. The last couple at home: let ourselves down. I can think of about five or six occasions that's happened this year.
"But most of the games have been competitive, we've been in and around it and now we've got to make sure we pick up points.
"Now the performance really is going out of the window. It really is about points total. We need a win at QPR, however it comes.
"On paper it looks okay. But it's not easy to go to Loftus Road, Harry Redknapp as manager, they've got some good players."
Pardew was pleased to pick up a point on his first visit to Upton Park as Newcastle manager, with his team surviving a second-half onslaught from the former United striker Andy Carroll.
"I think it was a very important game for us," said Pardew.
"The way West Ham play, there are always going to be things that bounce around in your box. You've got to keep your discipline in terms of defending that. We showed that.
"The point could be absolutely crucial. But we've got to make it crucial now. We've got to get three at QPR, that will probably be the key."
Wigan face the Capital One Cup winners Swansea tomorrow evening, which could see Newcastle drop into the bottom three depending on the outcome of Sunderland v Stoke City tonight. Pardew, already battle-weary, admits he will not be watching.
He said: "I couldn't suffer that I'm afraid. I've had enough tension for one week. It is difficult for Wigan. But it's a terrific result for them at West Brom. They'll take that into Swansea.
"That win has made it not just between us and Wigan. There are a lot of teams in the mix now. The most important thing for us is to win our next game and see where that leads us."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article