Alan Pardew hailed Newcastle's derby success over Sunderland, and was delighted by how they shrugged off an early penalty claim.
Newcastle boss delighted at reaction
Newcastle manager Alan Pardew hailed his side's derby success over Sunderland, and was delighted by how they shrugged off an early penalty claim to go on and clinch the win.
Ryan Taylor's second-half free-kick gave the Magpies a 1-0 win, but things could and should have been different before then as Newcastle were denied a penalty after just 15 minutes.
Seb Larsson handled a Joey Barton header, but referee Howard Webb and his assistant did not see it and awarded a corner.
And Pardew admits that the decision had a major bearing on the match, saying: "The penalty changed the course of the game to a degree.
"By the players' reactions you could tell - he had obviously handled it and should have gone off.
"But I see Howard Webb looking around and I knew he had not seen it so that was out the window and then we were relying on the linesman, and he didn't see it and I thought it affected us and let it get to us and we kind of carried it with us.
"We struggled in that period of the game but we stuck with our system, we changed a couple of things at half-time and it worked for us, we had more care and had more of the ball.
"I just thought we had that composure and when you're away that does help.
"We should have won last year and even played better last year and we went home really disappointed, so today we saw it over the line and perhaps it was reward for that."
Celebrate
Pardew admitted he would be joining his staff, players and fans in celebrating on Saturday night.
"It brings everyone together, my staff are looking forward to going to town tonight and sharing it with the fans and I will join them for one or two and enjoy it, and that is what it is all about sometimes," he said.
The Newcastle boss admits he is very pleased to have taken four points from the opening two games against Arsenal and Sunderland.
"You cannot argue with our two games, Arsenal at home, Sunderland away - maybe experts are saying we would get one point, but to get four points that is a real tick in the box.
"The spirit is still there, which we were applauded for last year, but even with the new players that is still there."
Pardew admits he will be continuing his efforts to bring in a new left-back and striker before the end of the window.
"We know we want to get the right players and best players, the group I have got is sound but to balance up we need a left-back in and a striker," he said.
The match-winner, Ryan Taylor, was filling in the problematic left-back slot for Newcastle and Pardew was full of praise for the former Wigan man.
"Ryan has proven in his career that his right foot is a superior weapon," continued Pardew.
"He has been calm this week despite all the talk about a new left-back, he got on with it and still played and the real plaudits today must go to him and he has done another great job for us."
