Pardew praises Magpies´ defence

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew hailed the defensive qualities that earned the Magpies a 2-1 home win over Everton.

Newcastle have proved to be this season’s surprise packets in the English Premier League and are one of only two teams, along with Manchester City, that are yet to be beaten.

Ryan Taylor’s sublime strike put Newcastle 2-0 up at St James’ Park before Jack Rodwell pulled one back for the Toffees in first half injury-time.

The home side lost French duo Yohan Cabaye and Sylvain Marveaux to injury but Pardew paid tribute to the fans’ unwavering support and the players’ mental strength to hold off for the win.

“It was one of those games today where we got disrupted. We lost two key players, but the guys who came on did well. It shows another side of us – that we have strength in depth,” Pardew said.

“They had their big guns come off bench and come at us but we defended solidly. It was one of our best defensive performances.”

“It’s great (to be second). But I think Fergie (Alex Ferguson) will have some say later on.”

And Pardew said the side could not have done it without their loyal fans.

“Their support got us across the line. We wouldn’t have got that result at Goodison (Park). They would have beaten us or certainly got a draw,” he said.

“They help us and pull us through. They are absolutely brilliant, our fans, and we certainly don’t take them for granted.”

Meanwhile, counterpart David Moyes bemoaned the poor defending that cost his side dearly.

“We knew coming here that we were going to have a hard game. They are on a good run and we knew they were going to start fast and we obliged them,” Moyes told Everton’s website.

“I think you make your own luck and we did not do that with our defending in the first half.”