Newcastle supporters have been told to "take a reality check" by Sam Allardyce's former assistant Phil Brown.

Magpies manager Allardyce, who only took over at St James' Park in the summer is coming under increasing pressure from fans after a disappointing run of results.

But Hull boss Brown, who worked under Allardyce at Bolton, told BBC Radio Five Live: "The sooner all parties - including supporters, including the media - take a reality check (the better).

"Newcastle have only won one trophy in the last 50 years.

"All of a sudden, a new man comes to the helm and everyone expects immediate success. It's ridiculous to expect it.

"Unless you get a £100million purse, as in Jose Mourinho at Chelsea, or a lot of money such as Sven-Goran Eriksson at Man City, I think it's ridiculous to expect immediate success."

Allardyce arrived at St James' Park with a reputation for playing less attractive football than that which the supporters usually demand.

But Brown insisted such a tag was unfair, pointing out the number of "world-class" players he brought to the Reebok Stadium.

"The list is endless of world-class players. Do you expect them to play long football?" Brown said, before urging the Newcastle board to back Allardyce in the January transfer window.

"He needs to get to the transfer window.

"He needs to bring in players that he wants to bring into the football club."

Brown said he has no doubt Allardyce will transform the club's fortunes.

He said: "The guy needs time. It's back to the old Sir Alex Ferguson adage where, three years into the job he was staring at the sack, 21 years later he's won everything."

Ferguson himself echoed Brown's comments.

He said: "It seems to me as soon as Newcastle lose a game, the manager's career is threatened.

"I would be astounded if they got rid of Sam. I am convinced that of all the managers they have had, he is capable of doing better than most.

"They have to say to themselves 'Look, we need to give this time'."

Ferguson still cannot believe the decision to dispense with Sir Bobby Robson's services in 2004, a move he felt defied all logic.

And, to an extent, the United boss feels a club who have not won a major trophy in over half a century are suffering from unrealistic expectations raised by a five-goal hammering of his own team on Tyneside 11 years ago.

"The worst thing that happened to Newcastle was when they beat us 5-0," Ferguson added.

"How many years ago was that? But since then, they seem to think they should win every game 5-0.

"I am not sure the Newcastle job is one you would want to take.

"I will certainly never understand why they got rid of Bobby Robson given his experience and enthusiasm, plus the fact he is a Geordie."

Wigan boss Steve Bruce has also leapt to Allardyce's defence.

Bruce cannot understand why Newcastle would ditch someone with such an impressive track record quite so quickly.

"Being under pressure is part and parcel of the job now - but it is bordering on the ludicrous now," he said.

"If you don't get an instant impact now, you can find yourself out of a job after eight or 10 games. What heart does that give anybody?

"I spoke to Sam yesterday. It was typical of him to ring and congratulate us on our performance.

"As I keep stressing, the job he did at Bolton proves he is a good manager. Who could have done a better job than that? What has changed?"

Bruce feels the trigger-happy clubs are sending out totally the wrong message to aspiring coaches.

"It takes the best part of five years to get your coaching badges to try and manage at the top level," he said.

"You can do all that hard work and be in a job for three months before you get shown the door."

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