Newcastle United are without a shut-out in Pardew's first three games.
Although Tim Krul's distribution has been a problem - just as it was for Shay Given for a time at St James' Park - the Dutch goalkeeper hasn't done much wrong.
But Steve Harper is back in the frame after injury and there were rumours on Friday that Pardew could give the Easington-born stopper the first team jersey.
Although Krul has faced the challenge well, Pardew feels Harper could give his back-line more confidence due to his veteran status and experience.
We asked you NEWCASTLEUTD-MAD readers to vote on who you would pick, and two thirds went for the Dutchman.
Alan Pardew: "I'm very lucky to have the choice between two very good goalkeepers.
"I cannot see why we shouldn't keep Wigan at bay on Sunday, we have a good defence.
"Fabricio Coloccini is a top player, and the back four did very, very well at Tottenham.
"They were a bit unfortunate – it was a deflection for the first goal.
"We gifted two goals against Manchester City when we put the ball at risk, but that's something we've done all year and something we talked about when I arrived.
"There are elements we have to cut out of our game, but as far as Fabricio's concerned, I think he's done very well."
TEAM NEWS ...
Newcastle striker Andy Carroll is out of Sunday's Barclays Premier League trip to Wigan.
The 21-year-old was due to undergo a scan on a thigh injury, but will miss out at the DW Stadium and is also a major doubt for Wednesday night's home clash with West Ham.
However, Shola Ameobi is expected to be fit after shaking off the hamstring injury which has kept him out of the last two games, while skipper Kevin Nolan returns from suspension and Jose Enrique (also hamstring) and Sol Campbell (illness) should be available.
Midfielder Dan Gosling, who is yet to play for the club, is making rapid progress in his fight to return from a long-term knee injury, but Hatem Ben Arfa (double leg fracture) and Ryan Taylor (ankle ligaments) are still out.
Newcastle (from): Krul, Harper, Simpson, Perch, Ferguson, Enrique, Coloccini, Williamson, S Taylor, Campbell, Kadar, Barton, Tiote, Nolan, Smith, Routledge, Gutierrez, Guthrie, Vuckic, Tavernier, Donaldson, Ameobi, Lovenkrands, Ranger, Xisco.
Sunday 02nd January 2011
Chelsea v Aston Villa 13.30
Wigan Athletic v Newcastle 16.00
Tuesday 04th January 2011
Blackpool v Birmingham 20.00
Fulham v West Brom 20.00
Man Utd v Stoke City 20.00
Wednesday 05th January 2011
Arsenal v Man City 19.45
Aston Villa v Sunderland 19.45
Blackburn v Liverpool 20.00
Bolton v Wigan Athletic 20.00
Everton v Tottenham 20.00
Newcastle v West Ham 19.45
Wolves v Chelsea 19.45
WIGAN ATHLETIC - DW STADIUM
How To Get There By Car & Where To Park
From The South:
Leave the M6 to Junction 25 then take the A49 to Wigan. After around two miles you should pass an Aldi store on your left, before reaching a large roundabout, that is traffic light controlled. Turn left at this roundabout into Robin Park Road and continue into Scot Lane. The ground is down Scot Lane on your right.
From The North:
Leave the M6 at Junction 26 and follow the signs for Wigan town centre (this road meets the A49) then turn left into Robin Park and continue into Scot Lane. The ground is down Scot Lane on your right.
Paul Heywood adds; 'I would recommend that away supporters, travelling from the South, should come off at Junction 26 (see From The North) as there are often queues from Junction 25 towards the stadium.
Car Parking:
There is a large car park at the stadium, specifically for the use of away supporters, which costs £4 per car or motorbike, £10 for mini buses and £20 for coaches. As you may expect though, there is sometimes quite a delay in getting out of this car park after the game, especially of there has been a larger than normal crowd in attendance. Make sure though that you avoid parking on the nearby Retail Park, as parking there is restricted to two hours and I have been informed of a number of fans who have ended up getting parking tickets (£50) because of this.
By Train
Wigan's central railway stations (Wigan North Western & Wallgate stations) are a good 20 minute walk from the ground. So either take a taxi, or break up the journey with a few pub stops on the way!
On exiting Wigan North Railway Station turn left and go down the road heading under a railway bridge. On leaving Wallgate station turn right and go down the road passing Wigan North station on your left and then proceed under the railway bridge. It is a fairly straight walk along Robin Park Road passing the Jacobs Well Pub (at Wigan Pier) on your left, which is okay for away supporters. When you reach the Seven Stars hotel, you should be able to see the stadium over on your right. Either at the Seven Stars Hotel turn right and follow the locals on a shortcut along a canal to the stadium, or take the next road on the right.
Adam Hodson adds; 'I caught the train to Wigan Wallgate, crossed the road in between the two stations and I jumped on the 621 First Manchester Bus which dropped me off outside the Red Robin Pub. I then had a short 3-4 Minute walk from the Bus stop to the stadium. Bus No 600, a more Frequent service, runs up to Robin Park Roundabout from the two stations, It's about a 5-10 Minute walk from the roundabout to the Stadium.
What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters?
Away fans are located in the North Stand at one end of the stadium, where up to 5,400 visiting supporters can be accommodated. The stadium is functional and the facilities adequate, but it just seems to lack something, to give it that memorable feeling. The view of the playing action and leg room are generally adequate. To the left of the away section, tends to be the Wigan fans who wish to sing congregate, who are aided by a drummer. On the concourse alcohol is available in the form of Tetleys and Carling. To try and bring some the order, there is a queuing system in force which is overseen by the stewards (plus if I remember correctly you could only buy two beers per person).
Scott Carpenter a visiting Newcastle fan adds; 'the concourses seemed too small for the large amount of away fans attending on my visit, which led to it being rather uncomfortably crowded at half time'.
Pat Bird a visiting West Bromwich Albion fan informs me; I was very impressed with the price to get in (£20), for a seat right behind the goal. The end given over to visitors was steeply banked with generous leg room. So far so good, however, I would have to agree with the comments of the Newcastle fan. It was an almighty struggle to get through to the loos at half-time. The concourse and toilet areas did not seem adequate to cope with a large away following. We parked in the car park behind the visitors end, which was fine, however, it took an age to get away after the match.
For anyone visiting the DW you could do worse than have a meal after the match in one of the nearby restaurants before heading for home. Within 100 metres of the ground there is a Franky & Bennys, an Indian restaurant and a number of other establishments'.
Where To Drink?
Simon Wright a visiting West Bromwich Albion fan informs me; 'Beside the away turnstiles is a very large Marquee, which contains a bar specifically for the use of away fans. It has the usual bar, big screen television and sells pies, as well as teas and coffees. It's a great facility and welcomes families'.
The traditional pub for away fans visiting the DW stadium is the Red Robin, which is only a few minutes walk away from the ground opposite the Cinema Complex.
Otherwise in the centre of town is a Wetherspoons outlet called the 'Moon Under Water' which was popular with away supporters on my last visit. Also worth a visit is the award winning 'Anvil' pub, which is located next to the bus station. Both these pubs are listed in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide.
The 'Swan & Railway' pub in the town centre, opposite the entrance to Wigan North Western Railway Station is best avoided by away supporters. Otherwise alcohol is available inside the stadium.
SPURS 2 NEWCASTLE 0
SPURS: Gomes, Hutton, Dawson, Kaboul, Assou-Ekotto, Lennon, Palacios (Jenas 46), Modric, Bale, Pavlyuchenko (Bassong 66),Van der Vaart (Crouch 72). Subs Not Used: Pletikosa, Keane, Kranjcar, Corluka.
NEWCASTLE: Krul, Coloccini, Steven Taylor, Perch, Tiote (Lovenkrands 79), Barton, Routledge, Simpson, Smith, Gutierrez (Ranger 67), Carroll. Subs Not Used: Harper, Williamson, Xisco, Best, Kadar.
Att: 35,927
I think we have learnt early on that Alan Pardew has one tactic and one alone - and if you stop Andy Carroll you stop Newcastle.
Pardew rang the changes to replace the suspended Kevin Nolan with Alan Smith, and Jose Enrique missed the cut with injury and we had to endure the return of under-fire full-back James Perch.
OK, perhaps we didn't expect to go to White Hart Lane with all guns blazing, but this performance showed the players are not taking to Pardew as some would have hoped.
He struck lucky beating Liverpool at St James' Park and I'm sure that papered over the cracks and gave the former West Ham boss time to calm the storm.
But that storm is starting to build, and going off yesterday's half-hearted performance, I think the players are not responding to what Pardew expects of them.
The long-ball up to Andy Carroll is football at its lowest level, school-yard stuff, and I know for a fact some of the players are frustrated with the tactics.
Gareth Bale's 10th goal of the season finished us off after an ill-tempered match saw us look worse with 11 men than Spurs were with 10.
Bale's electric pace allowed him to beat Steve Taylor down the left before unleashing a powerful drive that beat Tim Krul after Aaron Lennon put the hosts ahead just before the hour.
Spurs ended the match with 10 men for the second time in two days after Younes Kaboul was dismissed for forcing his head onto Cheik Tiote's in what was an otherwise feisty encounter that produced six bookings.
The hosts, who had Roman Pavlyuchenko up front in place of the suspended Jermain Defoe, started brightly and Lennon registered the first shot on target after firing a low drive at Krul two minutes in.
Carroll made his physical presence felt up front but the hosts looked more dangerous early on, with Van der Vaart, Lennon and Luka Modric the main threats up front.
Michael Dawson was next to feel the full force of Carroll's hulking frame when he fell to the turf clutching his shoulder after going up for a header before he picked himself up and carried on.
Carroll had his first effort 25 minutes in when he twisted his body to meet Jonas Gutierrez's cross but his header fell onto the roof of the net.
Bale, who had a quiet start, then burst into life by capitalising on Danny Simpson's mistake to race past Alan Smith and Fabricio Coloccini into the box - but the former Leeds man scrambled back to block the Welshman's six-yard shot.
Joey Barton, captaining the side in Nolan's absence, clattered into the back of Bale and was furious with the referee's decision to award a free-kick.
Krul reacted well to tip over a Van der Vaart curler from the resulting free kick just before a Wilson Palacios mistake allowed Cheik Tiote to fire a weak shot at Gomes with half an hour gone.
Tiote then entered the book for claiming that Van der Vaart had dived in the box as the match started to become ill-tempered.
A second error from Wilson Palacios allowed Carroll to break free before the Honduran brought the striker down from behind, earning him a booking.
Pavlyuchenko powered an effort towards goal but Krul pushed the ball onto his left-hand post before the ball ricocheted off the other stanchion and rolled out to safety.
Palacios paid the price for his sub-par first half and was replaced by former Newcastle man Jermaine Jenas at the break.
Van der Vaart almost gave the home side the lead when he flashed a curling shot over Krul but luckily for the away side, the ball fell just wide of the Newcastle goal.
The Dawson-Carroll battle resumed three minutes into the second half, with the striker requiring treatment after going up for a header.
Both Kaboul and Gutierrez were booked for fouls on Barton and Lennon respectively as the game threatened to boil over.
Spurs broke the deadlock in the 57th minute when Lennon raced down the right and beat Krul with a low drive from inside the box after being given space by James Perch.
Smith became the fifth person to be booked when he hacked down Bale on the touchline.
Tiote, who was lucky not to receive a second yellow for a foul on Modric, then squared up to Kaboul after the midfielder slid in to tackle the defender.
The former Pompey man forced his head forward onto Tiote's and although not a clear head-butt, was enough to persuade referee Taylor to send Kaboul off, much to the disapproval of the Spurs bench.
The dismissal caused Redknapp to bring off Pavlyuchenko for Sebastien Bassong while Alan Pardew sought to push home Newcastle's numerical advantage by introducing striker Nile Ranger for Gutierrez.
Peter Crouch then came on for Van der Vaart as Spurs faced up to closing the match out with 10 men as they did against Aston Villa two days ago.
Jenas then released Lennon down the right but the England winger shot just wide, before Tiote was replaced by Peter Lovenkrands.
Any hopes of a Newcastle comeback were extinguished with 10 minutes left when Modric broke over the halfway line before finding Bale on the left wing.
The Welshman accelerated past Taylor before smashing a low angled drive past Krul for his 10th of the season.
Carroll was booked in the closing stages for a foul on Gomes as Newcastle's challenge petered out.
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NEWCASTLE UTD MAD
CONTACT US (Kev): Kevnumad@fsmail.net
NEWCASTLE UNITED 2010/11
PREMIERSHIP
TOTTENHAM 2 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Coloccini, Steven Taylor, Perch, Tiote (Lovenkrands 79), Barton, Routledge, Simpson, Smith, Gutierrez (Ranger 67), Carroll.
Subs Not Used: Harper, Williamson, Xisco, Best, Kadar.
NEWCASTLE 1 MAN CITY 3 (Carroll)
Krul, Simpson, Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Routledge (Ranger 60), Barton, Tiote, Gutierrez, Nolan, Carroll.
Subs Not Used: Harper, Williamson, Guthrie, Perch, Smith, Best.
NEWCASTLE 3 LIVERPOOL 1 (Nolan, Barton, Carroll)
Krul, Simpson, Steven Taylor, Campbell, Jose Enrique, Barton (Routledge 90), Nolan (Smith 87), Tiote, Gutierrez, Carroll, Ameobi (Ranger 63).
Subs Not Used: Harper, Guthrie, Lovenkrands, Perch.
WEST BROM 3 NEWCASTLE 1 (Lovenkrands)
Krul, Simpson, Steven Taylor, Campbell, Jose Enrique, Routledge (Ranger 74), Guthrie (Smith 73), Tiote, Gutierrez, Carroll, Ameobi (Lovenkrands 46).
Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Perch, Best, Kadar.
NEWCASTLE 1 CHELSEA 1 (Carroll)
Krul, Simpson, Steven Taylor, Campbell, Jose Enrique, Routledge, Guthrie, Tiote, Gutierrez, Carroll, Ameobi (Ranger 77).
Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Lovenkrands, Perch, Smith, Best, Kadar.
BOLTON 5 NEWCASTLE 1 (Carroll)
Krul, Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Guthrie (Routledge 71), Nolan, Smith, Gutierrez (Campbell 77), Carroll, Ameobi (Lovenkrands 72).
Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Perch, Steven Taylor, Ranger.
NEWCASTLE 0 FULHAM 0
Krul, Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Guthrie (Routledge 76), Tiote, Nolan, Gutierrez, Carroll, Lovenkrands (Ranger 76).
Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Campbell, Smith, Xisco, Steven Taylor.
NEWCASTLE 1 BLACKBURN 2 (Carroll)
Krul, Simpson, Coloccini, Williamson, Jose Enrique, Barton, Nolan, Tiote (Routledge 88), Gutierrez, Carroll,Ameobi (Ranger 46).
Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Campbell, Lovenkrands, Smith, Steven Taylor.
ARSENAL 0 NEWCASTLE 1 (Carroll)
Krul, Simpson, Coloccini, Williamson, Jose Enrique, Barton, Tiote, Nolan, Gutierrez, Carroll, Ameobi (Ranger 82).
Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Campbell, Routledge, Lovenkrands, Smith, Steven Taylor.
NEWCASTLE 5 SUNDERLAND 1 (Nolan 3, Ameobi 2 - 1 pen)
Krul, Jose Enrique, Coloccini, Williamson, Simpson,Tiote, Barton, Nolan, Gutierrez, Ameobi (Ranger 86), Carroll.
Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Routledge, Lovenkrands, Perch, Ryan Taylor, Smith.
WEST HAM 1 NEWCASTLE 2 (Nolan, Carroll)
Krul, Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Barton, Nolan, Tiote, Gutierrez, Carroll, Ameobi.
Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Guthrie, Routledge, Lovenkrands, Perch, Ryan Taylor, Smith.
NEWCASTLE 2 WIGAN ATH 2 (Ameobi, Coloccini)
Krul, Perch (Ranger 89), Coloccini, Williamson, Jose Enrique, Guthrie (Routledge 66), Tiote, Barton, Gutierrez, Lovenkrands (Ameobi 60), Carroll.
Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Ryan Taylor, Smith, Kadar.
MAN CITY 2 NEWCASTLE 1 (Gutierrez)
Krul, Perch, Williamson, Coloccini (Campbell 36), Jose Enrique, Ben Arfa (Routledge 7), Nolan (Carroll 76), Tiote, Barton, Gutierrez, Ameobi.
Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Lovenkrands, Ryan Taylor, Smith.
NEWCASTLE 1 STOKE CITY 2 (Nolan pen)
Krul, Perch, Coloccini, Williamson, Jose Enrique, Ben Arfa (Gutierrez 62), Barton, Tiote (Ameobi 74), Routledge, Nolan, Carroll.
Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Lovenkrands, Ryan Taylor, Smith, Ranger.
EVERTON 0 NEWCASTLE 1 (Ben Arfa)
Harper (Krul 35), Perch, Coloccini, Williamson,Jose Enrique, Routledge, Tiote, Barton,Ben Arfa (Gutierrez 84), Nolan, Carroll.
Subs Not Used: Campbell, Lovenkrands, Ryan Taylor, Smith.
NEWCASTLE 0 BLACKPOOL 2
Harper, Perch, Coloccini, Williamson, Jose Enrique, Routledge (Ameobi 81), Smith (Lovenkrands 62), Barton, Gutierrez (Ben Arfa 73), Nolan, Carroll.
Subs Not Used: Krul, Campbell, Ryan Taylor, Tiote.
WOLVES 1 NEWCASTLE 1 (Carroll)
Harper, Perch, Williamson, Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Routledge, Smith, Barton, Gutierrez, Nolan, Carroll (Ameobi 81).
Subs Not Used: Krul, Lovenkrands, Ryan Taylor, Kadar, Vuckic, Ranger.
NEWCASTLE 6 ASTON VILLA 0 (Barton, Nolan 2, Carroll 3)
Harper, Perch, Coloccini, Williamson, Jose Enrique, Routledge (Ameobi 76), Smith (Ryan Taylor 76), Barton, Gutierrez (Xisco 80), Nolan, Carroll.
Subs Not Used: Krul, Lovenkrands, Vuckic, Tavernier.
MAN UTD 3 NEWCASTLE 0
Harper, Perch, Coloccini, Williamson, Jose Enrique, Routledge, Smith, Nolan (Ameobi 71), Barton,Gutierrez (Xisco 80), Carroll.
Subs Not Used: Krul, Ryan Taylor, Vuckic, Ranger, Tavernier.
CARLING CUP
NEWCASTLE 0 ARSENAL 4
Krul, Perch, Williamson, Kadar, Ryan Taylor, Routledge (Gutierrez 56), Guthrie, Smith (Barton 71), Vuckic, Lovenkrands (Carroll 57), Ranger.
Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Tiote.
CHELSEA 3 NEWCASTLE 4 (Ranger, R Taylor, Ameobi 2)
Krul, Ryan Taylor (Tiote 63), Campbell, Coloccini (Williamson 63), Ferguson (Barton 90), Ranger, Gutierrez, Vuckic, Smith, Ameobi, Lovenkrands.
Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Nolan, Carroll, Ben Arfa.
ACCRINGTON STANLEY 2 NEWCASTLE 3 (Ryan Taylor, Ameobi, Lovenkrands)
Krul, Ryan Taylor, Kadar, Tavernier, Ferguson, Ranger, Donaldson, Vuckic (Nolan 90), LuaLua, Ameobi,Lovenkrands.
Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Williamson, Barton, Routledge, Perch, Smith.
PRE-SEASON
CARLISLE 0 NEWCASTLE 3 (Best, Ranger, Vuckic)
Harper (Krul 46), Tavernier (R Taylor 46), Coloccini (S Taylor 46) (Henderson 81), Williamson (Perch 46), Enrique (Ferguson 46), Inman (Routledge 46), Smith (Barton 46), Nolan (Guthrie 46), LuaLua (Vuckic 46) , Carroll (Best 46), Lovenkrands (Ranger 46).
NORWICH CITY 2 NEWCASTLE 1 (Ameobi)
Krul, Taylor (Routledge 45), Tavernier, Coloccini (Williamson 45), Diaz (Ferguson 57); Ranger (Xisco 45), Barton (Smith 45), Nolan (Guthrie 45), Vuckic (Edmundsson 72); Best (Lovenkrands 45), Carroll (Ameobi 45).
NEWCASTLE 2 PSV EINDHOVEN 2 (R.Taylor, Best)
Harper, Perch, Enrique, Coloccini, Williamson, Guthrie, Nolan, Smith, Ryan Taylor, Lovenkrands, Ameobi. Subs: Carroll, Xisco, Best, LuaLua, Krul, Vuckic, Ranger, Donaldson, Tavernier.
DEPORTIVO 0 NEWCASTLE 0 (NUFC win 5-4 on penalties - Lovenkrands, Nolan, Carroll, R Taylor, Barton)
Harper (Krul 46); R Taylor, Perch (Tavernier 52), Coloccini, Enrique; Routledge, Barton, Guthrie (Nolan 46), Xisco (Gutierrez 46); Carroll, Best (Lovenkrands 73). Subs (not used): Smith, Ferguson
RANGERS 2 NEWCASTLE 1 (Lovenkrands)
Harper; Perch (Tavernier 81), Coloccini (Ferguson 81), Williamson, Enrique (R Taylor 56); Routledge (Xisco 83), Barton, Nolan, Guthrie, Gutierrez (Lovenkrands 69); Carroll (Ameobi 46).