HE might have built a team that favours functionality over flair, but Alan Pardew is hoping his current Newcastle United side eventually becomes a match for some of the great line-ups of the past.

Newcastle entertain Chelsea in today's lunch-time kick-off looking for the win that would lift them back into the top three for at least a couple of hours.

The Magpies might have lost their unbeaten record at Manchester City two weekends ago, but last week's spirited draw against Manchester United proved there was no negative fall out from events at the Etihad Stadium.

Newcastle's players were forced to call on their reserves of effort and commitment last weekend, particularly after the second-half dismissal of Jonas Gutierrez, and mounted a spirited rearguard action to thwart a string of late United attacks.

Their football might not be as flamboyant as some of the play that was produced under Kevin Keegan in the mid-1990s, but Pardew feels his side are providing plenty of entertainment in their own way.

"The fans might long for the flair of (David) Ginola, the flair of (Les) Ferdinand and the brilliance of Alan Shearer," said the Newcastle boss. "We're not that type of team, and we're not as good as that team, but we are a team and we are working as hard as we can to get better.

"We're giving every ounce of effort to try to get a result, and we'll be doing that again this weekend.

"You have to be impressed with the performances we've put in against Man City and United. To be down to ten men at Old Trafford but still get a result is fantastic. The players have been absolutely brilliant. I can't say they could have done any more."

Pardew expressed his sympathy for former Sunderland boss Steve Bruce yesterday, and the Magpies manager meets another under-fire boss in the shape of Chelsea's Andre Villas-Boas this afternoon.

Despite only taking over at Stamford Bridge in the summer, Villas-Boas' position is already being questioned following a run of two wins from seven matches in all competitions.

The 34-year-old is trying to put his own stamp on a Chelsea side that have been on a gradual downward slope for a while now, and while Roman Abramovich is hardly the most patient of owners, Pardew does not see the sense in another round of managerial upheaval.

"I can see what he (Villas-Boas) is trying to do," he said. "He is trying to put more energy into the side. They've had quite a slow build up over the last eight years and that has brought them fantastic success, but he wants to make the pitch a little bit smaller and put more pace and energy in the team.

"The management there, the owners, must have looked at him long term. Why give it to a 34-year-old if you're not thinking long term? I don't see a change coming there in my opinion."