Boss Hails "Perfect Performance"

By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Club Reporter

Alan Pardew paid tribute to his Newcastle United side for putting in the "perfect performance" as they beat Bordeaux 3-0 in the Europa League on Thursday night.

Shola Ameobi and Papiss Cisse were on target, either side of an own goal from Les Girondins' centre-back Henrique, to send the Magpies top of Group D with four points from their two fixtures.

And after a number of stuttering displays so far this term, the manager was delighted with what he saw under the floodlights at the Sports Direct Arena.

"We set standards last year that we haven't reached this season - until tonight," Pardew told nufcTV.

"Suddenly we looked like the team of last year, with some of our best players back to form.

"We were good tonight, led by Shola - the captain - who was brilliant again.

"There were great performances from the squad. Bigi came on after Cheick went off and looked like Cheick, Obertan was brilliant, Ferguson was brilliant and it was a delightful performance.

"We got goals at the right time, we were at it and made it difficult for them.

"We put a performance in that was right out of the top drawer against a team who were unbeaten in 17 games.

"The performance level was exactly what we needed.

"Verve, energy, passion, fast play and then we controlled the game when we took the lead. That was the perfect performance."

The only negative for Newcastle saw goalkeeper Rob Elliot suffer a first-half injury, joining number one Tim Krul on the sidelines.

And with Steve Harper the only fit, senior stopper remaining, Pardew revealed that youngster Jak Alnwick will be the back-up keeper when Manchester United come to Tyneside on Sunday.

"Rob is definitely out for Sunday and the Gods will really be against us if Harps gets injured during the game," he said.

"Jak will go on the bench and if we do need him then I've got no worries in sticking him in."

To watch the full post-match interview with Alan Pardew, click here.