Pardew unhappy with officials

Alan Pardew, pictured, was frustrated that Papiss Cisse's effort did not count
5 May 2013

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew was left ruing a decision not to award his side a goal after a 0-0 draw at West Ham left them mired in the Barclays Premier League relegation fight.

Papiss Cisse saw his effort midway through the first half hacked off the line by Winston Reid, with assistant referee Matthew Wilkes not convinced that the whole of the ball had crossed the line. With fellow strugglers Aston Villa and Wigan both picking up vital wins, the decision could yet prove crucial and Pardew believes his team were hard done by.

"It was a great win for Wigan and it has put extra pressure on us and all those around us," he said. "But you can only do what you can in a game and I thought we were terrific in the first half. I thought we had a legitimate goal that was chalked off."

He added: "I thought it was in at the time. I saw the linesman slip over and it worried me because he is in line with that, and if he hasn't seen it.

"I asked him at half-time and he said he had seen it. I don't know how he did that. It was down to the referee then. I thought by West Ham's reaction it looked in. And sometimes player reactions tell you everything."

Former Newcastle favourites Kevin Nolan and Andy Carroll had chances to win the game for the Hammers and assistant manager Neil McDonald felt they proved there was no chance of split loyalties for the duo.

"They are 100 per cent behind West Ham," he said. "Obviously they have a past with Newcastle and good times with them but they are so focused on West Ham trying to get in the top 10 now with two games left, after getting newly promoted and they've been solid all the way through.

"They've contributed as much as anyone in the team which is fantastic."

McDonald, who also spent time at St James's Park during his playing career, has backed the Magpies to retain their Premier League status.

"I've said before, I think Newcastle have got enough to stay up," he added. "But everyone is slightly still under pressure with the result that Wigan have had so everyone needs to do the best in the next game to try and get the points on the board so they can't be caught, but personally I think they will be okay."

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