Pardew praises high-flying Mags

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has refused to get carried away with his high-flying side's unbeaten start to the Premier League season.

The Magpies are sitting pretty in fourth place after their 3-1 demolition of struggling Blackburn at St James' Park.

Pardew's men boast the best defensive record in the top flight but had struggled for goals until summer signing Demba Ba broke his duck with a fine hat-trick against Rovers.

Unsurprisingly Pardew praised Ba's individual display but also was quick to declare himself happy with the whole team's performance.

Control

He said: "We were brilliant today.

"Blackburn going down to ten men was an injustice really because we controlled the game.

"We've had a good start to the season. But you can only take one performance at a time."

He added: "I was pleased for Demba Ba. He had a slow start and he had a couple of cameos as a sub where you could see he was getting up to speed.

"Then he had a terrific performance against Villa last week without threatening the goal. But he's got his goals today.

"He's a player who will move in the box. If you move in the box you'll score."

Torment

Pardew also paid tribute to Hatem Ben Arfa, who made his first Premier League appearance for almost a year after breaking his leg last October.

The Newcastle boss added: "I was pleased for Ben Arfa.

"I put him on because of the torment he's had in terms of injury.

"He's worked very hard to come back so I knew he would get a good reception. It was nice for him."