Allardyce Blast Changed The Game!

Sam Allardyce: "We played very poorly for us at home in the first half and I had a bit of sorting out to do.

"At that stage it was all Newcastle and I was a little bit worried.

"But the one thing the players did was keep hold of their defensive qualities to make sure we stayed in the game.

"Psychologically it is very good. It means if we continue to win football matches we don't go down there any more.

"I'm not sure whether it was or was not a penalty because I haven't seen it again.

"But the quality ball that was played in put the Newcastle defender under huge pressure.

"The quality of the balls from then on in was the reason we kept opening up their defence.

"In the end the players have answered for me. We have won a crucial game for both teams."