Dick Advocaat: "We have to not think about Newcastle any more - I have told them that - because we have in principle five games in which we have to do it.
"We still have a chance in the last two away games, but in principle, we have to do it in the first five games, so the most important game is now tomorrow."
Sunderland's derby success has proved short-lived in recent seasons with their previous three victories in the fixture having been followed by defeat.
Dick Advocaat: "I don't want to talk about that. I heard that story last week as well, but what can we do about that? We have to forget that, just concentrate on the game and get a result.
"Pardew is an excellent coach - I met him once in Spain when he was the manager of Charlton. He probably doesn't know, but I still remember that.
"They were there at the training centre in Marbella and we talked with each other. He's a nice man, I like him and then from that moment, I started following him.
"He did a great job, in my opinion, at Newcastle, and what he is doing now is unbelievable."
SATURDAY
Swansea v Everton
Southampton v Hull
Sunderland v Crystal Palace
Tottenham v Aston Villa
West Brom v Leicester
West Ham v Stoke
Burnley v Arsenal
SUNDAY
QPR v Chelsea
Manchester United v Manchester City
MONDAY
Liverpool v Newcastle