Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has vowed to keep on fighting after his side's 1-0 defeat at Stoke left them second bottom in the Barclays Premier League.
The Magpies were slow to react as Peter Crouch headed in the winner from Victor Moses' cross in the 15th minute and, once again, several Newcastle fans could be seen holding up "Sack Pardew" signs throughout the contest.
And while there were other moments of defensive uncertainty from the visitors, they rarely looked like finding an equaliser, with Potters goalkeeper Asmir Begovic only really being called upon to make one decent save, keeping out Daryl Janmaat.
Jack Colback came close to levelling late on, but struck the bar from close range.
The defeat leaves Newcastle in 19th place with just three points from their opening six matches of the season.
Pardew told Sky Sports 1: "It leaves us in the position where we're in the bottom three and we have to fight. I have to fight and the team have to fight and that's what we'll continue to do until we can turn it around."
Pardew also said he would meet with Mike Ashley this week.
"I think we'll have some serious conversations before Saturday because he doesn't want to lose and nor do I.
"I think it's important I show to the team that I'm here to lead the team.
"I've never really been in this situation before. It's a bit unique, but I'm a professional football manager, that's what I do and that's what I'll continue to do."
Pardew has no doubt the key issue for his side is a lack of cutting edge going forward and has vowed to address the problem.
Newcastle rarely looked like equalising after Stoke -- who also had a decent-looking penalty shout turned down and hit the post through Marko Arnautovic -- went in front via Peter Crouch's 15th-minute header.
Potters goalkeeper Asmir Begovic was only really called into action to push away one Daryl Janmaat strike, although Jack Colback missed a golden chance to level when he hit the bar late on.
Pardew, whose team have accrued three points from their six league games, said: "The last third is obviously a problem for us and we have to put that right.
"We have to find the answer. We'll have to have a look at it -- make changes, change the system or something. I've got to give the team more options in terms of going forward.
"We didn't create enough -- I'm not going to make any excuses. We are quite honest with ourselves in the dressing room that we need to create more.
"We had a big chance with Jack, who is beating himself up about it. If that goes in, I think we all knew what we were going to do -we were going to get the ball and try to get the winner, because we know that winning was everything tonight.
"A draw would have been as bad as a defeat really tonight. We need to get a win and get it quick."