In an amazing postmatch press conference, Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew said that the fans were responsible for his team’s failure to keep a lead against Crystal Palace in a recent league match. Newcastle took on Crystal Palace, who have recently appointed Neil Warnock as their new manager, at St James’s Park looking to get to the first win of the season. After having played three matches this campaign, Newcastle are still searching for this elusive victory. However, they will have to wait beyond the international break in order to do so after Crystal Palace equalised with only seconds remaining on the clock.

The 3-3 draw could have easily gone Newcastle’s way if the fans have not been excited during the final minutes of the encounter according to Pardew. He suggested that the excitement of fans spilled onto the pitch and made his players attack more towards the end of the match rather than protect the lead. Newcastle allowed Gayle to score within the opening minute, but they showed incredible resilience throughout the match to get on the lead in the 88th minute through Williamson. For the next few minutes, there was incredible jubilation inside the ground as seemed finally that three points were on the way.

On loan Manchester United winger Wilfried Zaha, though, equalised in injury time to spoil the celebrations. “We should have had all three points. Perhaps we got wrapped up in the crowd trying to get a fourth and it is frustrating to concede. Our fans went mad and we got dragged along a little bit with it. We weren’t as tight defensively today as we have been and Palace caused us problems in the wide areas,” said the Newcastle manager. It is reported that Pardew could lose his job if he fails to win the next two matches.