Pardew refutes half-time ref visit claim

Alan Pardew denied claims by Martin O’Neill that Newcastle tried to influence referee Mike Dean as the spoils were shared in a bad-tempered Tyne Wear derby.

Sunderland manager O’Neill suggested a delegation of backroom staff from the hosts had visited the officials’ room at half-time, an accusation flatly denied by his counterpart, who saw Shola Ameobi’s injury-time goal cancel out a disputed first-half penalty from Nicklas Bendtner.

“It’s completely untrue, none of our staff was allowed in the officials’ room,” insisted Pardew, whose goalkeeping coach Andy Woodman was ordered to the stands for a confrontation with Sunderland fitness coach Jim Henry in the tunnel at half-time. The Newcastle manager added: “I’ve heard the rumour about one of our staff going to the referee, but it’s not right.”