NEWCASTLE MANAGER ALAN PARDEW has likened returning defender Fabricio Coloccini to England’s World Cup-winning captain Bobby Moore.

The Argentina international helped his side secure a 1-1 draw away to rivals Sunderland in the English Premier League on Sunday.

Pardew’s side took an early lead at the Stadium of Light through Yohan Cabaye and, despite Cheick Tiote’s first-half sending-off, dominated until an unfortunate Demba Ba own goal gave Sunderland a point.

Coloccini was the away side’s star performer until his withdrawal in the 79th minute and Pardew believes Newcastle could have held on for the win had his skipper stayed on.

“It would have been one of the greatest victories had we held on because 60 minutes is a long time with 10 men but towards the end of the game we started to tire and there were just too many crosses coming in,” Pardew told reporters.

“Maybe if Coloccini had stayed on we would have seen it out. He was absolutely phenomenal today.

“If you want an example of how a centre-half should play – where you have to head it, kick it, get in the right position and then have the calmness to play – then that’s your example.

“I come from a famous football club in West Ham and it was like watching Bobby Moore today, he was terrific.

“If we had kept our 11 (men) on the field, he could have played the whole game, but because we went down to 10 it was just too much work for him and both calves tightened up.”

Pardew said he understood referee Martin Atkinson’s decision to send off Tiote for a high and clumsy challenge on Steven Fletcher.

“I’ve decided to accept it. I know Cheick and he’s not tried to do the player,” Pardew not-that-kind-of-playered. “He’s just late and the referee has deemed that a red. I think the fourth official had a role to play, as Martin was behind him.”

Sunderland manager Martin O’Neill bemoaned his side’s anxiousness after Tiote’s dismissal in the first half.

“Newcastle were strong, they played to their strengths and it was the sending-off that gave us the opportunity to press,” the Northern Irishman told reporters after the game.

“We tried to stretch them going wide but we became anxious. In the final third we tried to play a ball that was not there.

“In the second half I think pressure alone yielded us the goal rather than anything else. We got the goal and maybe had a bit more time to go on to win it but, in the circumstances, with Newcastle going down to 10 men and defending so strongly, that would have been harsh.”

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