ALAN PARDEW wants his players to recapture discipline in their play after watching Newcastle United slump to a narrow defeat to West Bromwich Albion on Tyneside.

Despite cancelling out the Baggies' lead twice, Newcastle lost for the fourth time in six matches after Austrian midfielder Paul Scharner completed a 3-2 win at St James' Park.

It was deeply frustrating for Pardew and he made no excuses after that match having hoped his team would have claimed at least one win from their last three matches against Norwich City, Swansea City and West Brom.

But now Newcastle – who also claimed just a point from dates with Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea – head in to Boxing Day trip to Bolton still searching for a first win since November 5.

Newcastle did show flashes of the fighting qualities which had seen them spend much of the campaign in the Premier League's top five.

But with the Yohan Cabaye, Dan Gosling, Danny Guthrie and Steven Taylor missing, Pardew was left counting the cost of a display which he was far from satisfied with.

He said: "Of course (the run) is a concern. I thought that was evident too.

"The crowd were a little bit desperate for it, we were a bit desperate for it too. But you can't win Premier League games unless you're disciplined and controlled. At points we weren't - even though you couldn't fault their commitment to get back into it.

"Mainly because we were so desperate to win I thought we lacked a bit of control of the game. Our discipline wasn't where it was normally and that worried me a bit. We need to make sure that's right. We turned the ball over and were exposed, which isn't like us.”

Too many of Newcastle's players had off days, but they still looked as if they would claim something after Demba Ba's double cancelled out Peter Odemwingie and Gareth McAuley's first half goals.

But, as Newcastle pushed for the late winner, West Brom capitalised and snatched the win, which was the Magpies' second home defeat of the season.

"The third goal just caught us on the break. there was a bit of fortune in the goal - more or less one of their first attacks of the second half," he said.

“But the first half was where we got ourselves in trouble. We didn't play well enough in the first half and were caught at times by their front two. Their front two made us edgy, I thought.”

While there were a number of individuals that failed to impress, Pardew was encouraged by the performance of teenager Haris Vuckic, who made his first Premier League start in midfied.

Pardew, who admitted suspended Cabaye would return at Bolton, said: "I felt sorry for Haris. He was terrific. He had two terrific efforts and I think he showed everybody here that he's going to be a player for us for sure."

The Newcastle manager also revealed Italian defender Davide Santon was replaced at half-time with a knee injury, which was not thought to be be serious.

He is likely to comment on the future of Cheik Tiote this afternoon. The Ivorian was quoted on Sky Sports' website shortly before last night's kick-off suggesting he has been aware of interest from Champions League clubs.

“I am flattered by clubs interested but there is nothing official,” Tiote was quoted saying in a story which emanated from France.

“When teams such as Chelsea, Manchester City, Liverpool and Manchester United are interested, it makes you think twice, but I love Newcastle. I belong to Newcastle and enjoy my life there.”