Alan Pardew has praised his “angry” frontman after a Demba Ba brace rescued a point for Newcastle United.

Twice trailing away at Everton, both times the Geordies bounced back thanks to goals from their second half replacement.

The Newcastle United boss hailed his decision to bench the Senegal international, claiming it made the striker play better in Monday night’s frenetic encounter.

Pardew told The Daily Mail: “I can’t keep everyone in the squad happy; there are one or two who aren’t happy.

“Sometimes players play better when they’re angry.”

Newcastle were dominated in the first half and fortunate to only be a goal down and still in contention. A swap at half-time which saw the dropped forward emerge from the bench proved inspirational, with Newcastle levelling through the 27-year-old in the 49^th minute.

After two Everton goals were wrongly disallowed in a much more even chaotic second period, Victor Anichebe got what looked to be the winner in the 88^th minute blasting past Steve Harper, only for Ba to rescue Newcastle with a 90^th minute strike.