MARK Hughes has urged Sam Allardyce to stick to his guns as he attempts to win over the doubters at Newcastle United.

Disappointed by the club's poor start to the season, some United supporters have already turned on Allardyce, even though the former Bolton boss is barely four months into his new job.

However, Blackburn manager Hughes has warned his Newcastle counterpart not to pander to popular opinion by abandoning his principles, insisting instead he must carry on believing in the things that got him the job in the first place.

The Ewood chief, who had to work hard to stamp his own mark on Blackburn during the first few months of his reign, said: "You have to stick to your principles and philosophies and all the things that got you into the position to get a big job.

"Those qualities are the reason why you were appointed in the first place, and you have to stick by them.

"If you sway from what you feel is right and just try to appease general opinion or people who have influence at your club, then you go away from the football knowledge that you have acquired over a period of time.

"You've just got to be true to yourself and try to do the job as well as you can, and be allowed to do the job as well as you can."

Allardyce made it clear right from day one that it was going to take time to reverse years of underachievement on Tyneside.

However, four months down the line, United fans are already starting to lose patience after the former Wanderers chief has failed to deliver instant success.

"Sam wanted to go on to bigger things, with bigger resources and bigger expectations, and that's certainly what he has got," said Hughes.

"I'm sure in a strange way, he is actually enjoying it because it forces you to work as hard as you can and more so, if that's possible.

"But it takes a long time (to turn things around). When I came in here, we were in a situation where we were near the bottom of the league and in the opening weeks and months we hit rock-bottom and had to build from a very low base.

"But you stick with what you feel, and you stick with the players you feel can get you out of the situation you find yourself in, and then that gives you time, which is what all managers need.

"Eventually, they will get the players that they want, and get them playing the way they want them to play.

"But that takes time and managers don't always get time these days."

Another defeat at Ewood today would only increase the pressure on Allardyce, who is desperate for a result after four games without a win.

However, the Newcastle chief can expect few favours from Rovers, who are looking for a change in fortunes themselves following Wednesday night's 4-0 reverse to Aston Villa.

Hughes added: "I said after the game on Wednesday night that we need to draw a line under it because hopefully that's the one blip that we'll have."