Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce reacts during their English Premier League soccer match against Wigan at The JJB Stadium, Wigan, England, Wednesday Dec. 26, 2007. After three losses in a row in the Premier League, the pressure is back on Allardyce. The Magpies prepare for what should be a routine FA Cup visit to Stoke City on Sunday. Another defeat, however, and Allardyce is likely to be fired. - AP

LONDON (AP)

After three losses in a row in the Premier League, the pressure is back on Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce.

The Magpies prepare for what should be a routine FA Cup visit to Stoke City. Another defeat, however, and Allardyce is likely to be fired.

The manager Newcastle hoped would bring big trophies back to the club for the first time in almost four decades walked off the field at St. James' Park after Wednesday's 2-0 loss at home to Manchester City to the now familiar sound of his own fans booing him.

"It mounts on us all, but on me in particular because we have lost a game at St. James' Park we should not have lost," said Allardyce, who was touted as a possible England manager after transforming Bolton from perennial relegation candidates to a top-eight UEFA Cup side. "Now it is three defeats on the trot. The pressure grows because a team like us should not be losing at home, a team like us should not be losing three games on the trot.

"We have got to stick together and believe that how we can play can get us out of trouble. That starts at Stoke City on Sunday in the FA Cup."

With Newcastle 11th in the Premier League standings with virtually no chance of either the title or a place in the Champions League, the only chance of success is in the cup.

But the Magpies go to meet a Stoke team which is pushing hard for promotion to English soccer's top flight for the first time since 1985. The Potters are fourth in the League Championship standings.

If Newcastle lose at the Britannia Stadium on Sunday, then the Magpies, who last won the league in 1927 and FA Cup in '55, will have nothing else left to play for with half the season to go and the fans will want Allardyce out.

"I am not thinking about that side of it at all," Allardyce said. "But I am not daft enough not to know that I am in the results business and I need to win some football matches.

The third round of the cup is where the top flight teams join in and some of this weekend's 32 games involve matchups of Premier League clubs.

By coincidence, Manchester United faces Aston Villa in the third round for the second season in a row. At the same stage last season, United edged Villa 2-1 at Old Trafford and now the two teams face each other at Villa Park.

First FA cup

Sven-Goran Eriksson, who spent five years as coach of England, faces his first FA Cup game with City visiting West Ham in another matchup of two Premier League clubs.

Sunderland and Wigan, both struggling to get out of relegation trouble, have the distraction of a meeting at the Stadium of Light, while Tottenham hope to follow up Saturday's memorable 6-4 Premier League victory over Reading by beating the Royals at home again, this time in the cup.

Defending champions Chelsea should be too strong for League Championship club Queens Park Rangers although the visitors are reviving under new coach Luigi Di Canio and are already spending cash on new players now that the monthlong transfer window is open.

Arsenal, aiming to match Manchester United's record 11 FA Cup triumphs, go to another Championship club, Burnley, on Sunday and Liverpool visit League One side Luton.

Like Allardyce, Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez was booed off the field by his own fans on Wednesday when the Reds were held 1-1 at home by Wigan and slipped to 12 points behind Arsenal in the Premier League title race.

Five other Premier League clubs face opponents from the Championship. Blackburn host Coventry, Bolton welcome Sheffield United, Middlesbrough visit promotion-chasing Bristol City and Portsmouth go to Ipswich. Ipswich are unbeaten in 13 home league games including 11 victories.