Pardew Happy To See The Mackems Fall!

Last updated : 28 February 2011 By Footy Mad - Editor

Alan Pardew: “We’ve got everything to play for.

“It was good that Sunderland got beat (at Everton). We’re a win away from jumping above them, and we’re already looking forward to next week.

“From a manager’s point of view, Saturday was a tough day.

“We had a bad break at the start of the game by losing Joey in the warm-up.

“That was 20 minutes before the game. Ryan Taylor came into the game in his place, and we didn’t notice the seam if I’m honest.

“I thought Ryan was terrific, and perhaps we should have been 2-0 up. That’s the galling thing.

“I’m frustrated about that, and then we gifted them a goal. As a manager, I’m frustrated about that.

“The ref was annoying me too. Then poor old Ryan took a bad touch in the central area and tried to make up for it by being over-zealous in the challenge.

“He’s got sent off, and he hasn’t got a malicious bone in his body.

“He’s certainly not going to get a fine from me for that. He genuinely went for the ball. But we were still down to 10 men, and the game looked like it could go away from us.

“We steadied ourselves then took a chance by putting two up top and tried to win it. I thought it was a terrific game on a tricky surface.

“Jose did a few oles on the far side, and it was like a bullring at one point on that far left.”