Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has admitted that fortune was on his team's side during their 3-0 win over Wigan Athletic.

The game swung dramatically in the Magpies' favour on 13 minutes when Maynor Figueroa was shown a straight red card for a professional foul on Papiss Cisse.

Demba Ba converted the resultant penalty, before he and Gael Bigirimana added to the Toon's tally at St James' Park.

"It's been difficult for the players and staff," Pardew told Sky Sports News. "We've had so many knocks with injuries - game after game - and it was nice to get a break and it was a break.

"We've had to work very hard for that win. It's been four defeats in a major football city and that puts a lot of pressure on us."

Prior to their win over Wigan, Newcastle had not won in seven games in all competitions.

Written by
Robert Summerscales