Pardew blames referee for Newcastle injuries

Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew believes refereeing decisions in his side’s 3-0 loss to Chelsea cost them more than just three points.

Mike Dean’s decision last Saturday not to send off Chelsea defender David Luiz for hauling down striker Demba Ba drew the ire of Pardew

He suggested the decision changed the complexion of the match, with the former Southampton boss arguing the increased effort his side had to put into the game resulted in an injury to centre-back Steven Taylor.

“The biggest problem from the weekend, and perhaps the decision from the referee that would have changed the game, is that we put in more effort against Chelsea than we have done in any other game this season,” Pardew said.

“That’s cost us injuries to (Danny) Guthrie and Taylor. It just goes to show how important those decisions are.”

“I would have felt very, very confident going into this period if I had had all of my squad here, but I haven’t.”

Pardew also threw a veiled barb in Dean’s direction with the news the referee would be officiating again this weekend.

“It’s interesting to see that the referee at our place, who admits to a mistake, and the Bolton referee (who sent Gary Cahill off at Tottenham) have both got games this weekend. I think that’s something that is interesting,” he said.

On Newcastle’s rise this season, where they have reached as high as third, Pardew said he hoped the good fortune would keep coming.

“Well in some ways it’s seems like a long year, when I look back at all the incidents and selling Andy Carroll and everything else, but along with everything else it seems to have flashed by, I have really enjoyed it,” he said.

“I think as a club we’ve tried to do it the right way, I’ve tried to put a product on the football pitch that plays the game in the right manner and hopefully get great results and that’s what we’ve had.”

“So certainly more highs than lows and I’m really looking forward to my next year.”

He also paid tribute to his opposite number, Paul Lambert, ahead of this weekend’s trip to Norwich City.

“I am surprised by the number of games (Norwich) have won. It’s very difficult to win games in the Premier League. Especially for the teams that get promoted, they have done exceptionally well,” Pardew said.

“The manager (Paul Lambert) has done an unbelievable job there.”