The Magpies are the visitors to the Britannia Stadium on Monday night and are without a win after five matches, with only Burnley below them in the Barclays Premier League table
That run has prompted a barrage of abuse aimed at Pardew from Newcastle fans unhappy with the way the team has performed so far this season - and this year in general
And Hughes, who repeatedly came under fire during his 18-month spell at Manchester City, feels there is too much expectation on managers at some clubs
''A lot of people don't know the reason why certain things have occurred or why there hasn't been a good performance," said the Welshman
''There are always other things people outside the immediate group don't know about and you know yourself you can't go out and say, 'well, these are the reasons'.
''So you have to protect yourself, your position and your club sometimes from situations and sometimes that's to the detriment of yourself.
''It's not easy because there is more focus on you as a club and you, as the figurehead in terms of football
It goes with the territory and you have to deal with it.
''The focus on big clubs is always there and the only way you can deal with it, to take that focus off you as a manager, is by winning football matches and if you don't there is a negative focus.''
Hughes has also laughed off comments from City boss Manuel Pellegrini after he described the Potters as a "small team"
Pellegrini was left annoyed by Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho's tactics in last Sunday's 1-1 draw between the sides at the Etihad Stadium
Having been beaten at home by Stoke three weeks previously, the Chilean held up Chelsea and the Potters for comparison, seemingly belittling both clubs
Describing the match with Chelsea, Pellegrini said: ''It was very similar to the Stoke team, with a big team playing against a small team with very good players, trying to defend, trying to keep the score (0-0).''
However, Hughes said: ''I think everybody understood what he meant
"We didn't take any umbrage with it, as criticism of ourselves
It was more the Manchester City manager's take on how he thought one of the top teams went up against his side
''On the day they were gracious in defeat, which sometimes doesn't happen with big clubs
But I felt we fully deserved the victory and they said so.''
Hughes has no fresh injury concerns for the meeting with Newcastle, with only midfielder Jonathan Walters (calf) a doubt
Source : PA
Source: PA