Pardew’s battlers re-ignite Euro bid

NEWCASTLE boss Alan Pardew praised the battling qualities of his players after they re-ignited their bid for European football with a first win in five Premier League games yesterday.

January signing Papiss Cisse clinched the points with a superb 11th-minute strike to edge out Norwich, who more than made a game of it on a day when the Magpies were not at their best as injuries took their toll.

Victory left Newcastle five points clear of seventh-placed Liverpool and just two shy of Chelsea in fifth, although both now have a game in hand after their involvement in the FA Cup yesterday.