Pardew pleased at hard-fought win

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew was a happy man after seeing his side extend their lead at the top of Europa League Group D with a hard-fought victory over Club Brugge.

Gabriel Obertan's 48th-minute strike was enough to establish a three-point gap over second-placed Bordeaux, who could only draw with Maritimo in Madeira on Thursday evening, at the halfway stage.

Asked if he would have settled for seven points from a trip to Madeira and home games against Bordeaux and Brugge, Pardew said: "Absolutely. We have got ourselves into a good position tonight. We knew we had a chance of getting seven points, and that really bodes well."

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