Newcastle United manager http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Alan-c4244 Pardew compared captain and defender Fabricio Coloccini to World Cup legend Bobby Moore after the Magpies’ 1-1 draw with rivals Sunderland.
Newcastle took the lead in the opening minutes of the game through http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Yohan-Cabaye-c37423, but spent the rest of the afternoon defending their one-goal cushion.
The Magpies played with 10 men for the greater part of the game after midfield enforcer Cheick Tiote was sent off in the opening 20 minutes of the game.
The player was punished for what was seen as a reckless studs-up challenge, and was given his marching orders by referee Martin Atkinson.
If it were any other game, the sending off would’ve killed the pace and the ebb and flow of the intense clash, but being a Wear-Tyne derby, the fans were not disappointed.
Sunderland dominated the majority of the game, but Newcastle held on, and defended solidly. However, Sunderland were given their reward in the 86th minute when defender John O’Shea fired home a header which deflected off Demba Ba’s head and went
in goal.
Alan Pardew nonetheless remained optimistic and happy with the result. The manager knew the significance of the match and hailed his side’s character for holding on and managing a point.
He was especially full of praise for his Coloccini, who was arguably the best Newcastle player on the pitch. The Argentinian centre-half was everywhere and made a series of impressive tackles and blocks as he kept his side in the game.
Pardew compared Coloccini to the late World Cup legend Bobby Moore and hailed his performance. The player had been substituted after Sunderland scored, but was a ‘warrior’ for the Magpies. Pardew said:
“I come from a famous club at West Ham United after being manager there – and that was like watching Bobby Moore.”
“It was that good. He was absolutely phenomenal. If you want a defensive example of how to head it, kick it, cover people and have the calmness to play then this was it.”
Coloccini looked to have suffered a recurrence of his hamstring problem as he was taken off after the Sunderland equalizer. The manager is currently waiting on news regarding the player’s injury, and will hope for nothing serious as Newcastle prepare for
this Thursday’s Europa League.
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