Hull City manager Steve Bruce is hopeful that his side can capitalise on the turmoil surrounding Newcastle United.

The Magpies are yet to win a game after four Premier League matches, prompting calls from supporters for owner Mike Ashley to sack manager Alan Pardew.

A number of fans are planning to protest against the 53-year-old coach at St James' Park ahead of Saturday's meeting with Bruce's Hull side.

Bruce has been named as a possible candidate for the Newcastle job should Pardew get sacked, but the Hull boss has given his backing to his under-fire counterpart.

"Unfortunately, with the way social media is and the way the media is, there is a huge appetite for what we call nonsense," Bruce said in today's press conference. "It comes with the territory, but you have to say in the North-East it seems to quadruple.

"When there's a crisis, there's a crisis, and I suppose that comes from the huge support they have got. It's a difficult, difficult place to manage, but we have to try and take advantage of that, of course we do. We have to be mercenary enough to try and do that.

"The other stuff is not enjoyable to watch from afar. Over the years he's done a decent job has Alan, but I think that's the nature of the beast, especially in the North-East, and I can say that because I'm from there."

Hull are currently three points above Newcastle, who are at the bottom of the Premier League table.