Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce knows what it is like to face the fury of the fans and is well aware of the price managers have had to pay in what he terms as the most "volatile" Premier League season ever.

"It is typical of the expectation that surrounds the game today," said Allardyce, noting abuse from the fans is something they have to live with in the modern game. "That is something we all have to accept and live with."

"Before the season started, with that amount of money spent, you knew it was going to be the most volatile season and it has proven to be that already. We are just half way through it and seven managers have gone already.

"It is a hugely competitive league and bigger than ever before. More people have entered into the transfer market than ever before, spent more money - £530million this summer - it means that clubs like Sunderland, who got promoted, are into the £30-odd millions, which has never been seen before.

"Other clubs who staved off relegation are going into the £20millions. We are all competing with everybody's funding of new players and trying to stay in and be successful in the Premier League.

"It is the only league to play in. Rome can't be built overnight. That has always been the expectation here (at Newcastle) so our focus is to make sure that pressure does not come on us by continuing to get results and that's what we have got to do. We can then grow slowly but surely to hopefully sustain more and more success as the years go by."

Allardyce could not hide his displeasure with the lineman's decision not to flag Kalou offside during Newcastle's 2-1 defeat to Chelsea yesterday. He believes it cost his side a valuable point but the United boss was determined not to let it affect his players ahead of their clash with Manchester City.

He added: "You have got to take the positives out of a good performance even though you have not got a result. We need to reproduce that sort of form on a consistent basis.

"But we got dealt a massive blow with the offside decision that was blatantly offside. You have to stay focused and make sure you continue to get your team to perform and not let it affect the confidence.

"That can be the down side. We have got to work very hard at making sure the players put it behind them and have no comebacks in terms of going into the game against Manchester City."

Chelsea made it 73 games unbeaten at Stamford Bridge following Kalou's controversial winner.