Pardew: Newcastle fans crucial to City contest

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew said they will have an edge over Manchester City in the sides’ crucial Premier League clash on Sunday.

Pardew said the Sports Direct Arena crowd can inspire his team to victory against the side that inflicted their first defeat of the season upon them in November.

The Magpies have picked up 35 points since the turn of the year compared to City’s 38 and Pardew said that proves Newcastle are one of the top teams in the league, as the North-East club attempts to secure a Champions League spot for next term.

“We have the advantage because we are at home, and our fans make a huge difference to us,” Pardew told reporters.

“Forget about individuals, look at the two teams – our team is going to compete with them. I can’t pay any greater respect to my side.

“They deserve that respect because they have earned it. That’s not about me, or Papiss Cisse, but the team. We have got 35 points this year, City have got 38.

“I would say we have closed that gap (on City), even though in November we were upbeat. Looking from the sidelines then I still felt there was an extra element to their game. Looking at us against Chelsea and Liverpool, I think we have closed that gap.

“This club has come on in leaps and bounds in the last two years. It has been a meteoric rise in form and credibility. We have created a situation where next year is going to be problematic for us.

“We need to make sure, when this season ends, (to work out) where we went wrong and where we went right. We have to correct the bad things and recognise the good ones, and keep doing them to improve because next year will be a difficult season for us.”

Pardew said avoiding defeat on Sunday would ensure a full house of results against the ‘big five’ clubs of the English top flight.

“I look at it closely and we have taken points off Liverpool, Spurs, Arsenal, and Manchester United. Man City are the only ones we have not,” the former Southampton and Charlton boss said.

“So on Sunday it is there for us to take points off all the top teams and that would be a great feat for this team. And I think we can do it.

“I would suggest there is a little bit more pressure on them, being as they are away from home and going for the title.”