Fabricio Coloccini played like Bobby Moore - Pardew

 

Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew said Fabricio Coloccini's performance during Sunday's 1-1 draw with Sunderland "was like watching Bobby Moore".

Coloccini was magnificent as Newcastle - reduced to 10 men in the first-half - earned a point at the Stadium of Light.

And Pardew decided the display was worthy of comparison with Moore, a gifted centre-back who captained England to World Cup success in 1966.

Newcastle defender Fabricio Coloccini

Coloccini was back in the Newcastle side after a three-game absence

"He was absolutely phenomenal," said Pardew of his Argentine defender.

"If you want a defensive example of how to head it, kick it, cover people and have the calmness to play, then this was it. That was like watching Bobby Moore. It was that good."

Newcastle held onto a third-minute lead given to them by Yohan Cabaye until four minutes from time, with Coloccini, who had missed six of his side's last seven games because ofi a hamstring injury, leading the resistance.

It was only after losing his South American centre-back to cramp that Sunderland equalised, Demba Ba's own goal denying the Magpies victory.

Though they could not hold on with 10 men, Pardew had no complaints about midfielder Cheick Tiote's dismissal for a tackle on Steven Fletcher.

"I know Cheick and he's not tried to do the player," said Pardew. "He has just caught him and [referee] Martin Atkinson has deemed it a red card. I thought the fourth official had a part to play in it because I don't think Martin could have seen it."

Pardew was delighted with the nature of his team's display, adding: "It would have been one of the greatest victories had we managed to hang on but 65 minutes is a long time with 10 men.

"We talked beforehand about showing the fans how much this means to us and I thought we did that, particularly when we were down to 10 men. It was an unbelievable effort and I'm so proud.

"I'm just disappointed we haven't taken all three points when we have played for more than an hour with 10 men. That's saying something."