Red-hot Best buoys Magpies
Ireland striker Best, who celebrates his 25th today, has continued the fine form he showed during the latter part of last season with his third goal of the current campaign.
His effort cancelled out the opener from Villa forward Gabriel Agbonlahor to ensure both sides remain unbeaten in the Premier League season so far.
Pardew said: “Leon has been around the game a long time. He has not really had the chances at Premier League level that he feels he deserves.
“Leon has great belief in himself. He gets a start, he gets a goal, and he keeps the shirt, it’s as simple as that.
“I’m pleased for him and he will be in against Blackburn next week and I hope he scores again.”
Pardew was pleased with the Magpies’ overall performance.
He said: “I was really buoyed by our performance because when you come to Villa, you don’t expect to control the game for as long as we did.
“We got a grip of the central area of the pitch and Yohan Cabaye and Cheick Tiote were outstanding.’’
Villa boss Alex McLeish felt his side should have been more ruthless.
The normally deadly Darren Bent missed two gilt-edged chances.
He said: “We could have been better in the final third. We were a bit careless and we’ve got to be more ruthless in those situations.
“Benty had a right good chance to make it 2-0 and it is not like him to miss those chances but he is only human.”
ASTON VILLA: Given, Hutton, Collins, Dunne, Warnock, Bannan (Albrighton 67), Petrov (Ireland 68), Delph, N’Zogbia, Bent (Delfouneso 85), Agbonlahor.
NEWCASTLE: Krul, Simpson, S Taylor, Coloccini, R Taylor, Obertan, Cabaye, Tiote, Gutierrez (Sammy Ameobi 85), Best (Shola Ameobi 69), Ba (Marveaux 80).
Referee: Neil Swarbrick (Lancashire).
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