Pardew, Kompany take top awards

Newcastle United’s Alan Pardew has been named Barclays Manager of the Season after a sensational campaign that has seen his side defy expectations.

Newcastle head into the final game of the season with the opportunity of a top-four finish and Champions League qualification.

Pardew’s appointment as Newcastle manager in December 2010 was met with scepticism by many of the club’s faithful, having seen Chris Hughton sacked despite winning promotion the previous season.

But after steering the Tyneside club to safety last season, Pardew has sought to push them onwards this term, bringing in a number of players including Davide Santon, Yohan Cabaye and Demba Ba.

The team quickly gelled under his guidance, which resulted in their best start to a Premier League campaign in 17 years, before the January purchase of Papiss Demba Cisse helped Pardew’s side cement their position in the European places.

Meanwhile, Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany has been awarded Barclays Player of the Season.

The 26-year-old defender has been instrumental in the side’s resurgence in form since their defeat at Arsenal in early April.

Since that 1-0 loss – which looked to have eliminated City from the title race because of the eight-point deficit to leaders Manchester United – Roberto Mancini’s men have been brilliant.

The club have conceded just once and scored 15 times in their current run of five straight wins.

City ended April with a jubilant 1-0 win in the Manchester derby to complete the league double over Sir Alex Ferguson’s men – the goal scored by Kompany from a corner just before the half-time whistle.

The club only need to win at home – a feat they have only failed to accomplish once this season – against QPR to secure their first Premier League title, and their first top-flight championship since 1968.