Bristol City boss Sean O'Driscoll offered an open letter to the club's fans following Monday's 1-1 draw with Sheffield Wednesday.
O'Driscoll, who stuck to his guns in the post-match press conference, subsequently put pen to paper afterwards in an effort to get his point of view across.
The former Nottingham Forest boss refuses to discuss the Championship table with the Robins rooted to the bottom, seven points adrift of safety, and insists he is more concerned with his side's performance levels.
"I am acutely aware it's results that will determine our fate this season, and I'm also acutely aware there are people who still don't grasp what I mean when I say I have to concentrate on performances, not results," he wrote in the letter printed by the Bristol Evening Post.
"Surely, at this stage of the season, results are the only thing that will make a difference to our league position. Of course, results dictate everything, and of course, I understand supporters' concerns are only with the results with games running out.
"But how do you just suddenly click your fingers and make results happen if the players don't understand what they need to do to try and win every game they play?
"That understanding is reflected in the performance, so when I talk about performances, regardless of the final score, I'm asking 'Have the players done everything required to give themselves the best opportunity to win that game?'
"The outcome cannot determine how good a performance has been. You won't play consistently poorly and win lots of football matches. Producing a one-off dazzling display and victory - if you don't understand how you did it - won't help you progress."
He added: "When I get asked about not looking at the league table, I don't answer the way I do to try to be clever or difficult.
"We try to win every single game we play. You win more than you lose and the points tally takes care of itself, but the league position may not because what the other teams do is completely out of my control."
The Dons looked to have banished their relegation fears after lifting themselves out of the League Two drop zone with a fine run of form since the turn of the year.
But Saturday's defeat by fellow strugglers Barnet means they are still looking over their shoulder, hovering just three points above the bottom two.
"We have to pick the boys up so that they stay mentally and physically strong," said Ardley.
"We are capable of winning our last four games. We have to get back to basics in training during the week and we will be working incredibly hard to get what we need.
"We have a good bunch of lads and we cannot let all the good work we have done in the last few months go to waste.
"All the teams down there are in form now and we have to make sure that we do not lose form at a crucial time. We will do everything in our power to make sure that does not happen."
Goalkeeper Tim Krul is bidding to return to action when Newcastle take on the Portugese outfit.
Krul has missed the Magpies' last seven games with an ankle injury and could return at the Estadio da Luz in place of his deputy, Rob Elliott.
Full-back Davide Santon missed Saturday's Premier League 4-0 thrashing by Manchester City with a thigh problem but was adjudged fit enough to travel in a 19-man party.
Centre-back Mike Williamson, whose last outing came against Reading in January, also makes the squad, as does teenager Adam Campbell.
But Cheick Tiote (hamstring) and Massadio Haidara (knee) miss out, as well as longer-term absentees Fabricio Coloccini (back), Hatem Ben Arfa (hamstring), Mathieu Debuchy and Yoan Gouffran (both ineligible).
While Alan Pardew's side go to Lisbon on the back of a defeat that ensured relegation jitters linger, Jorge Jesus side are all smiles after a 6-1 rout of Rio Ave that preserved their six-point lead at the top of the league.
Benfica have won their last five in all competitions and boast an unbeaten home run in this tournament that stretches back to December 2008.
Oscar Cardozo will be earmarked as a threat having netted three in his last four games and Jesus, whose side has hit 102 goals in total this term, has a healthy squad at his disposal.
Argentina international Eduardo Salvio (knee) is set to miss out but Jesus' main quandary is whether to restore Rodrigo to the starting line-up or reward Brazilian striker Lima for his weekend hat-trick.
Town's play-off hopes look all but finished after they crashed to a 3-0 defeat at Shrewsbury on Monday.
But Barker has reminded his side how well they have acquitted themselves in their first season in League One ahead of Saturday's tough trip to MK Dons.
"We've dealt with a lot of things this season," said Barker.
"We'll make sure that the first season we've played at this level is as good as it can be.
"I'm disappointing we didn't win on Monday but it's important we recover quickly."
