Coloccini: "We Deserved It"

By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Managing Editor

Fabricio Coloccini believes Newcastle United deserved all three points against Crystal Palace on Saturday - even though they left it late to secure a 1-0 win.

Papiss Cisse struck deep into three minutes of stoppage time, finally breaking the deadlock after heading home Hatem Ben Arfa's cross.

The Senegalese striker had been denied on three previous occasions by excellent Eagles stopper Julian Speroni, as well as scuffing an effort wide with time running out.

But Cisse's persistence paid off in the end, as he nodded in at the Gallowgate End, and Coloccini was delighted for his teammate

"We tried to win the game for the full 90 minutes. They (Palace) just came here to defend and didn't create too much," admitted United's skipper.

"To be honest, when we got near the end I thought it was going to finish as a draw, so it was a very good result!

"We are happy because I thought we deserved the three points.

"We are happy because we won at home, Papiss scored and that is a good thing for him as well.

"We are all so happy for him because strikers live to score and he has been a bit unlucky in the last few games.

"He had a few chances today, which their goalkeeper saved, and then missed one from Mapou's cross but he never gave up and hopefully this gives him a lot of confidence."

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