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We won because we played to our strengths - Pardew

Demba Ba outmuscled Manchester United's defence © PA Photos

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Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew believes his side were able to beat Manchester United because they played to their strengths.

Strikes from Demba Ba, Yohan Cabaye and an own goal from Phil Jones enabled the home side to romp to a 3-0 win in their Premier League clash on Wednesday, as the champions slumped to a second successive defeat. And Pardew paid tribute to his strikeforce - Ba and Shola Ameobi - for providing the basis for a famous home victory.

"We won because we controlled the game in terms of what we wanted to do, we wouldn't let them play," Pardew told Sky Sports. "Physically and aerially today we had an advantage.

"It was a great victory for us - we beat the champions 3-0 and we probably deserved that scoreline.

"You've got to have brave players who are going to push on - we had some outstanding performances individually."

Ba, who opened the scoring with a well-executed first-time volley, believed it was important for the team to bounce back after a disappointing 3-0 loss to Liverpool.

"We just went on the pitch, after what we did against Liverpool it was not good," he said. "Today we had to get the three points.

"I don't really look at the opposition when I play - I just say if I give everything 100 per cent I am going to be on a good day."

Ameobi echoed those sentiments, adding: "It's the start of the new year, start as we mean to go on.

"We didn't really show up against Liverpool so that was a great opportunity for us. We got a fantastic win.

"We saw what Blackburn did to them a few days ago [winning at Old Trafford] and we thought that could be something we could work on - get the ball in behind them and squeeze them up the pitch."

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