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Gaffer's Case For The Defence
Written by Newcastle Utd
Alan Pardew was delighted to see his side record a clean sheet at West Ham
By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Managing Editor
Alan Pardew was delighted with his side's defensive display as they recorded a clean sheet at West Ham on Saturday in the Barclays Premier League.
Having conceded ten goals in three games, the Magpies hit back with only their second clean sheet in 15 top flight attempts, frustrating the likes of Andy Carroll, Kevin Nolan and Matt Jarvis on a tough afternoon in East London.
And on his first return to Upton Park, the former Hammers boss was satisfied to take a point back to Tyneside.
"It's a tough place to come," Pardew told nufcTV.
"They bombarded us with long balls in the second half but we stood up well and had a good unity to us.
"We have been drilling the team and making sure we had a good base, but we played some terrific football in the first half and really had a good control of the game.
"We were just unfortunate to not get the goal because I thought we could have won the game."
Pardew singled out Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa for special praise, after the French international centre-back stood out in an unfamiliar role on the left-hand side.
"Mapou was different class at left-back and that is really important with the games we've got left," he said.
"It looks like Massadio is going to miss out and Davide Santon won't make it, so it was important that there was a good performance in that position, and Mapou did the job."
To watch Alan Pardew's full nufcTV post-match interview, click here.