And now his "excuse" of European football does not count this campaign, he says the club is right in the middles of a gruelling six games in six days.
A gruelling six games in six days that also is the same for Sunderland, Manchester City and Chelsea (the three games we play).
Alan Pardew: "The derby was a really demanding game on the legs and on the emotions. We're disappointed for the fans and ourselves.
"But if we could beat Manchester City I think it would get people talking because then we'd be down to the last eight and it all becomes a bit serious then.
"I think any team in the Premier League can consider this a tournament they can win.
"For the Champions League clubs maybe it's a little down on their agenda but it's high on our agenda.
"For us this year it is a priority. We want to win a trophy for our fans.
"If we could get past Manchester City it would be a great way to put away the disappointment of Sunderland, but that's easier said than done.
"It's still tough to beat them....they have a squad of 24 international players so we're coming up against 11 internationals even if it is a slightly weakened City team.
"When they turn on their turbo chargers, with the players they've got, they're almost impossible to deal with.
"But they're vulnerable as well and particularly away from home results haven't been as good as they would like.
"That is some comfort for us, that we could catch them on an off night.
"If your desire to win something is stronger than the opposition, then it does give you a slight benefit. We'll be leaning on that for sure.
"We'll be strong (on Wednesday) but we're in a run of three games in six days and we've got to make sure we're at full tilt for the Premier League games.
"I've got three or four players I feel need to come in and play who have a chance of playing against Chelsea.
"It's an opportunity for players really close to the first team to make a stand for Chelsea.
"That question is in front of me: what team do I play versus Chelsea? I want a few people to give me a problem."
IDEAL FOR CHRISTMAS
MAGPIES IN EUROPE -
HARVEY TO PARDEW
The new version of "Magpies In Europe" will be launched next week.
Although NUFC are not talking to the Chronicle or Sunday Sun ... we are!
And the full story is expected to be in newspapers within the next two weeks.
The official new title is "Magpies In Europe - Harvey To Pardew" and is an up-dated version of "From Antwerp To Zurich" - which includes the 14 Europa League fixtures we played last season.
The 280-page book features match reports from the 134 European matches Newcastle United have played, starting with the memorable 4-0 win over Feyenoord in 1968 on our European debut.
Included are stats and the figures you would expect, but also each away fixture has the remarkable experiences of individuals who travelled to watch the matches.
Introduction by "Big Bad" John McNamee, part of the Fairs Cup winning team of 1969.
It is a fascinating history that every Newcastle United fan will enjoy.
And with a limited print-run, make sure you order a copy.
DON'T MISS OUT!
More details will be announced this week about where it will be sold, but we are selling it MAIL ORDER for £8.95 (but postage will be £1.50 extra).
(*Or we will be selling them for £8.95 prior to home games in Newcastle)
ON SALE NOW AT: M&M City News; 140 Northumberland St, Newcastle NE1 7DQ.
The Flower Shop, Spennymoor, Co Durham.
RRP: £10.95
if you want to order, contact us:- Kevnumad@fsmail.net
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Mail order: Send a cheque for £10.45 made payable to K.Fletcher to:
K Fletcher, 5 Dunelm, Sacriston, Durham DH7 6NU
Include your own address.
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THIS WEEK'S FIXTURES
Tuesday October 29
League Cup
19:45 Arsenal v Chelsea
19:45 Birmingham City v Stoke City
19:45 Burnley v West Ham United
19:45 Leicester City v Fulham
19:45 Man Utd v Norwich City
Wednesday October 30
League Cup
19:45 Newcastle United v Manchester City
19:45 Tottenham v Hull City
Saturday November 2
Premier League
12:45 Newcastle United v Chelsea
15:00 Fulham v Man Utd
15:00 Hull City v Sunderland
15.00 Manchester City v Norwich City
15:00 Stoke City v Southampton
15:00 West Brom v Crystal Palace
15:00 West Ham United v Aston Villa
17:30 Arsenal v Liverpool
Sunday November 3
Premier League
13:30 Everton v Tottenham
16:00 Cardiff City v Swansea City
NEWCASTLE UNITED 2013/14
PREMIER LEAGUE
SUNDERLAND 2 NEWCASTLE 1 (Debuchy)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Dummett, Santon, Sissoko (45' Cisse), Tiote, Cabaye, Gouffran (86' Sammy Ameobi), Ben Arfa, Remy (70' Shola Ameobi).
Subs: Anita, Haidara, Elliot, Obertan.
NEWCASTLE UTD 2 LIVERPOOL 2 (Cabaye, Dummett)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Yanga-Mbiwa, Santon, Cabaye (78' Sammy Ameobi), Tiote, Gouffran, Sissoko (45' Dummett), Remy, Ben Arfa (78' Anita).
Subs: Cisse, Elliot, Obertan, Dummett.
CARDIFF CITY 1 NEWCASTLE 2 (Remy 2)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Tiote, Cabaye (86' Ben Arfa), Gouffran, Sissoko, Remy (71' Gutierrez), Cisse
Subs: Anita, Yanga-Mbiwa, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi, Dummett
EVERTON 3 NEWCASTLE 2 (Cabaye, Remy)
Krul, Debuchy, Yanga-Mbiwa (46' Williamson), Coloccini, Santon, Tiote, Anita (69' Cisse), Ben Arfa (46' Cabaye), Sissoko, Gouffran, Remy
Subs: Elliot, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi, Dummett
NEWCASTLE 2 HULL CITY 3 (Remy 2)
Krul, Debuchy (86' Tiote), Yanga-Mbiwa, Coloccini, Santon, Cabaye (62' Gouffran), Anita, Sissoko, Ben Arfa, Cisse (73' Marveaux), Remy
Subs: Williamson, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi, Dummett
ASTON VILLA 1 NEWCASTLE 2 (Ben Arfra, Gouffran)
Krul, Debuchy, Coloccini, Yanga-Mbiwa, Santon, Anita (74' Tiote), Cabaye (88' Sammy Ameobi), Ben Arfa, Sissoko, Remy (63' Gouffran), Cisse
Subs: Elliot, Marveaux, S Taylor, Dummett
NEWCASTLE 1 FULHAM 0 (Ben Arfa)
Krul, Debuchy, Yanga-Mbiwa, Coloccini, Santon, Ben Arfa, Sissoko, Anita 65' (Cabaye), Marveaux 74' (Remy), Shola Ameobi 65' (Gouffran), Cisse
Subs: Gosling, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi, Dummett
NEWCASTLE 0 WEST HAM 0
Krul, Debuchy, Yanga-Mbiwa, Coloccini, Santon, Ben Arfa, Sissoko, Anita, Marveaux 66' (Sammy Ameobi), Shola Ameobi, Cisse 72'
Subs: Gosling, Bigirimana, Elliot, Vuckic, Dummett
MAN CITY 4 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Debuchy, Coloccini, S Taylor, Yanga-Mbiwa, Sissoko, Tiote, Gouffran 45+4' (Dummett), Ben Arfa 65' (Sammy Ameobi), Gutierrez 44' (Anita), Cisse
Subs: Elliot, Marveaux, Shola Ameobi, Obertan
LEAGUE CUP
NEWCASTLE 2 LEEDS UTD 0 (Cisse, Gouffran)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett, Gouffran (90' Vuckic), Anita (80' Gosling), Tiote, Marveaux, Sammy Ameobi, Cisse (71' Obertan).
Subs: Ben Arfa, Yanga-Mbiwa, Bigirimana, Alnwick
MORECAMBE 0 NEWCASTLE 2 (Shola Ameobi, Sammy Ameobi)
Elliot, Debuchy, Yanga-Mbiwa, Good, Dummett, Bigirimana, Gosling, Marveaux 88' (Sissoko), Vuckic 46' (Shola Ameobi), Sammy Ameobi, Gouffran 71' (Ben Arfa)
Subs: Santon, Anita, Alnwick, Streete
Newcastle United Fixtures
Wednesday October 30
19:45 League Cup - 4th Rnd
Newcastle United v Manchester City
Saturday November 2
12:45 Premier League
Newcastle United v Chelsea
Sunday November 10
12:00 Premier League
Tottenham v Newcastle United