Pardew says he is having his worst spell as West Ham boss

Pardew took over at Upton Park in October 2003 but believes he is enduring his worst spell at the helm.

He said: "Any manager who has lost six games has a certain amount of fear about his job. It must be the worst run I've ever had and is not acceptable.

"But you have to be big and strong enough to take it - and I am."

Interview: West Ham boss Alan Pardew

After steering West Ham back to the Premiership in 2005, Pardew secured a mid-table finish, reached the FA Cup final and saw the club qualify for Europe.

But Pardew's fortunes have faded this season and the former Reading boss is counting on a bit of good luck and graft to get his side's campaign back on track.

"We need a break to change the entire face of the team and I'm convinced it will come soon," insisted Pardew.

"The only formula that I've followed throughout my life is to come in and work harder because only we can turn it around.

We can't look to the takeover talk or the arrival of Argentine players as an excuse West Ham boss Alan Pardew

"I've always thought of our players as strong characters and now it is up to them to go out and prove it."

Earlier this month, Pardew denied he had threatened to quit over a rumoured �70m buy-out by Iranian businessman Kia Joorabchian.

The 45-year-old insisted the takeover talk and high-profile arrival of Argentine duo Javier Mascherano and Carlos Tevez were not a disruptive influence on the team's performance.

"I think there has been too much emphasis placed on all this," said Pardew.

"We can't look to that or the arrival of Argentine players or this or that as an excuse.

"I've told the players and the staff to just pull their socks up as employees of West Ham and find a bit of belief because that is the only way."

West Ham midfielder Yossi Benayoun told BBC Radio Five Live's Sportsweek that Mascherano and Tevez want to turn round the club's fortunes as much as everyone else at the club.

"It is wrong to put the blame on them," said Benayoun. "We have got two very good players.

"I speak with them every day and they are like everybody - they want that first win and then we can start to look at the positives.

"It has been difficult for us as a club but we believe in ourselves that things will change soon. Alan brought us to where we are and last season was great.