manager Alan Pardew has admitted that he was pleased with his side's performance in a 1-1 draw with Sunderland on Sunday.

The Tyneside club went into the lead early on through Yohan Cabaye, before Cheik Tiote was sent off in the first half for violent conduct.

The hosts equalised late on when Demba Ba put through his own goal after a John O’Shea flick-on, but Pardew was pleased with the way his side performed, especially after going a man down.

"It was a magnificent effort. We said to the players before the game how important it was to the fans, we've now shown how important it is to us," he told Sky Sports.

"Playing an hour with 10 men, if we could have just seen it out it would have been one of the greatest victories ever here. But it's a great point and I'm very proud of my players."

Tiote was dismissed for kicking out at Black Cats forward Steven Fletcher, and Pardew also confessed that he could have no qualms over the African battler's sending off.

"At first I didn't think it was that bad, but looking back at it again we can't have any complaints. But what a response from the rest of the group," he concluded.

The result has Newcastle down in 11th place on 10 points, whilst Sunderland are in 14th place on eight points.

Newcastle hosts West Brom at St James' Park next, and Sunderland have an away trip to face Stoke at the Britannia Stadium.