Home advantage will help Newcastle against Manchester City, says Pardew

5 May 2012 15:00:00

The Magpies' manager believes a feverish Sports Direct Arena can give his side a boost as they host Roberto Mancini's table-toppers and wants to add City to their list of scalps

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew believes his side will have an advantage over Manchester City when the sides meet on Sunday.

Pardew believes the Sports Direct Arena crowd can inspire his team to victory against the side that inflicted their first defeat of the season upon them in November.

The Magpies have picked up 35 points since the turn of the year compared to City's 38 and the Toon boss believes that proves that Newcastle are now one of the top teams in the league.

"We have the advantage [tomorrow] because we are at home, and our fans make a huge difference to us," Pardew told reporters.

NEWCASTLE - MAN CITY PREVIEW

"Forget about individuals, look at the two teams – our team is going to compete with them. I can't pay any greater respect to my side.

"They deserve that respect because they have earned it. That's not about me, or Papiss Cisse, but the team. We have got 35 points this year, City have got 38.

"I would say we have closed that gap [on City], even though in November we were upbeat. Looking from the sidelines then I still felt there was an extra element to their game. Looking at us against Chelsea and Liverpool, I think we have closed that gap.

"This club has come on in leaps and bounds in the last two years. It has been a meteoric rise in form and credibility. We have created a situation where next year is going to be problematic for us.

"We need to make sure, when this season ends, [to work out] where we went wrong and where we went right. We have to correct the bad things and recognise the good ones, and keep doing them to improve because next year will be a difficult season for us.

"I look at it closely and we have taken points off Liverpool, Spurs, Arsenal, and Manchester United. Man City are the only ones we have not.

	SUPER CISSE TO STRKE?
13/2	Papiss Cisse is 13/2 to score the first goal when Newcastle meet Manchester City with sportingbet

"Now, if you look at that, you would have to say, maybe they can, looking at that record. We haven't yet. So on Sunday it is there for us to take points off all the top teams and that would be a great feat for this team. And I think we can do it.

"I would suggest there is a little bit more pressure on them, being as they are away from home and going for the title."

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