Pressure eases for Pardew

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew insists Aston Villa will be under more pressure than his side when the teams meet at Villa Park on Sunday.

Villa are just two points above the Premier League relegation zone and fighting for their lives.

By contrast, Newcastle have five more points and are looking good for a top-10 finish in their first season back in the Premier League – despite a mid-season change of manager.

“The pressure has eased a little bit on us,” Pardew said. “You look down to the bottom area and the gap of seven points between us and the relegation zone is a hell of a lot, especially with the bottom teams being as competitive as they are.”

“The win over Wolves will go a long, long way to making us play without the pressure we were under going into last week?s game. We knew what a big game it was last week.”

“There were plenty of reminders because the table is so tight.”

That 4-1 win over Wolves also moved Newcastle into a positive goal difference – something Villa can only dream of as theirs is minus 14.

Pardew said: ?We have a good goal difference. There is work to be done to make that up on us.”

“I think another win or a couple of draws will probably be enough for us.”

Newcastle are without defender Tamas Kadar (hamstring) and strikers Leon Best (ankle) and Alan Smith (ankle). Defender Jose Enrique (hamstring) is a doubt.