Alan Pardew: 'I can't defend Steven Taylor'

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has admitted that he is struggling to find a way to defend Steven Taylor following his red card against Manchester City last night.

Taylor was dismissed on the stroke of half time in last night's opening Premier League fixture at the Etihad, with City going on to record a comfortable 4-0 victory.

Pardew revealed that Taylor quickly apologised to his teammates for a challenge on Sergio Aguero, which he feels was petulant rather than malicious.

He told Sky Sports News: "I have to say I thought we gave a good account of ourselves up until the sending-off.

"We'd threatened their goal, but the sending off made it a really difficult night for us and you don't want that on the first day. It was a silly challenge from Tayls, it was out of character for him, and then we had to work and grind in the second half, which we did.

"I just thought it was a silly action, and I can't really defend him on it, if I'm honest. I know he's a proper fella and he wouldn't mean to be malicious to the guy."

The Magpies have a chance to bounce back from an opening-day defeat this weekend, when Sam Allardyce returns to St James' Park with West Ham United.