Those three points kept the club’s lead over seventh-placed Liverpool to five points, and kept Chelsea, in fifth, in their sights.
United went for three points in the closing minutes of the game against Arsenal and were caught on the break.
1-0 up against Norwich, Pardew says he told the players to sit-back and not throw away the points.
Alan Pardew: “I think everybody looked at the Norwich game and said we petered out and were hanging on.
“But people forgot the effort we put in at Arsenal. I thought we did well in the second half to see that game out.
“It was a massive relief on the training ground, and a release of pressure.
"You can feel it with the players – they’re playing with a buoyancy.
"There’s a brightness in the game.
"I actually feel more confident than I have done in a few weeks.”