Alan Pardew admits Fabricio Coloccini spat

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has admitted that he fell out with captain Fabricio Coloccini prior to Saturday's match with Queens Park Rangers.

The two made up as the Magpies earned a 1-0 victory over QPR at St James' Park at the weekend thanks to a winning goal from Shola Ameobi.

Pardew has conceded to enduring a confrontation with his skipper, but he insists that it was nothing out of the ordinary.

"We fell out this week and we're entitled to do that, as the captain and the manager," said Pardew. "It was just a silly little thing and I know he was determined to get the result.

"I just said to him before we walked out on the pitch, 'look we are both winners, we are allowed to fall out'.

"I said to him: 'Be our leader today, be a captain and make sure they don't get a sniff of goal'. And when you ask someone to do a job and they do it, it's only right that you pay your respects to them."

Newcastle travel to Manchester United on Boxing Day.