Newcastle United manager Steve Bruce believes fans calling for his sacking are "fully justified", as he prepares his team to face Manchester City.
The Magpies crashed out of the EFL Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday, going down 1-0 to Championship club Brentford.
Newcastle sit 12th in the Premier League but have not won either of their last two league matches, losing heavily to Leeds United and drawing at home to Fulham.
"You have to accept the criticism, which is fully justified. We should not be getting beaten with a chance to get to the semi-final for the first time in 45 years," Bruce said after the Brentford defeat.