Pardew is left purring about his 'beautiful' midfield star

Sep 18 2011 by Mark Douglas, Sunday Sun

NEWCASTLE United boss Alan Pardew hailed Leon Best as his side rediscovered their threat in the Second City.

Best fired his third goal of the season at Villa Park as United recovered from Gabriel Agbonlahor’s opener to post a fine display against Alex McLeish’s unbeaten side.

But it was improvements all around that really pleased Pardew – who left Vila Park purring about the performance of “beautiful” Cabaye.

“I thought we looked a threat all day,” Pardew said. “The only thing that was holding against us was our record of how many goals we’d scored already.

“If you hadn’t seen our goals for column, you would suggest that we have got a four or five-nil team there. Or four or five potential goals.

“We created great chances and I was really, really pleased with that. It bodes well for going forward.

“But if I can get Cabaye on the ball . . . you’d pay good money just to watch him. He was beautiful today, some of the things he did.

“He deserved a goal and it was ironic it was Shay Given – a Newcastle stalwart – who kept him out.”

Best continues to impress up front for United, scoring a second-half equaliser at the second bite of the cherry after Given saved his header.

“I thought the two strikers did very well,” he said. “Ben Arfa will play Tuesday night and Shola came on the pitch, along with Peter Lovenkrands in the background. We’re not as shallow as perhaps people thought.