Pardew applauds skipper after row

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew argued with captain Fabricio Coloccini ahead of Saturday’s 1-0 victory over QPR.

Pardew went onto the pitch to congratulate Coloccini at the final whistle at St James’ Park after Shola Ameobi’s late goal had sealed victory against Harry Redknapp’s strugglers.

The 51-year-old manager insisted that the disagreement was nothing out of the ordinary and had no doubt that the Argentine defender would be committed to the cause regardless.

“There was a reason for going on the pitch at the end of the game to see Colo,” Pardew told reporters.

“We fell out this week and we’re entitled to do that – as the captain and the manager.

“I just said to him before we walked out on the pitch, ‘Look, we are both winners, we are allowed to fall out’. It was just a silly little thing and I know he was determined to get the result.

“I said to him before the game, ‘Be our leader today, be a captain and make sure they don’t get a sniff of a goal’. And when you ask someone to do a job and they do, it’s only right that you pay your respects to them.”

Pardew said disputes such as that which he had with Coloccini regularly occur at Premier League clubs and he has no issue with players voicing opinions contrary to his own.

“You fall out with players all the time as a manager, because if not, you’re not doing your job,” he said.

“Sometimes I have to say what I think is right. Even your most senior players can disagree with that. I have no problem with that.

“I feel that in any walk of life you have to be a man sometimes and admit when you’re wrong and also pay your respects when someone does something very right and I thought Colo was absolutely brilliant today.”