Our Best Performance of the Season....

Alan Pardew gives his view of today's controversial home win against 'Boro...

I’ve got to be honest; I thought that that was our best performance of the season. We’ve come up against a side with big reputation players and I thought we went about our business in a manner that was really pleasing.

Middlesbrough don’t make things easy - the full backs don’t move much. The crowd had to be patient today and so did we. Although we created some half-chances during the first-half I was quite pleased.

Second half, we got a little bit stale. The decision (to bring on Teddy Sheringham) was an easy one and I think most people in the ground would have made it.

His first chance he sticks it away. That put us in the driving seat and it asked Middlesbrough to come out a bit and play. I always felt we could get a second goal – though not in the circumstances under which it arose.

Usually the players’ reactions give you a good indication as to whether it’s a goal. I didn’t see too much reaction. I’ve now seen it and I don’t think it was a goal – in fact no way was it a goal. it was a fortunate break for us in that it gave us a cushion.

In fact, us conceding at the end could have cost us points. A little break went our way today but in some ways we earned that. Sometimes it doesn’t work like that but today I felt we earned that break. So well done the linesman – was he Russian?!

Steve (McClaren) was very angry. I wasn’t sure if that was because he’d seen a replay or if he’d seen Marlon’s attempts to calm their boys down – he might have seen that as Marlon trying to get someone booked but Marlon’s not like that. You’d have to ask Steve that.

As a manager he’s seen his team come here and they’ve been second best to some degree, so you need a break - he didn’t get one today and I did.

Technology? I was asked about that the other day and my answer is simple. If it disrupts the flow of the game, no. If they could do it in an instant then I’d be happy at that. If we’d had a static nil-nil and we’re sitting around for five minutes it’d send everyone to sleep so if they’re gonna do it it’s gotta be – bang! – like that in my view.

Teddy? He wasn’t happy at being left out. I felt we needed a bit more energy on the pitch today – with their midfield I didn’t think there’d be too much room for him out there today.

I asked Bobby to play a slightly different role to Teddy’s today knowing that if I had to change things about there was no better a player to bring on than Teddy.

He showed a fantastic attitude. He was disappointed but he didn’t let that show in his attitude. He was great about the dressing room today – he wished Bobby all the best and he came on and did his job and you can’t ask for more than that.

Every fan knew that this was a big game for us – we’ve got the toughest month coming up with Liverpool, Man Utd and Tottenham so today was a big, big win.

The Carling Cup. I want us to win trophies so we’re going there to try to win the game. Bolton on their own ground is a tricky game but we’re going into it in good spirits. We’ll be looking to introduce some fresh faces – we’ve got a couple of knocks in the changing room as it is.

Paul Konchesky has a knock as have Anton and Matty. So if you’re asking me will the team change for Bolton I think it will – it’ll probably be forced on me anyway.

Yossi? I thought he was unlucky today – especially with that chip in the first half. He’s got good feet and he wriggles out of situations you think he shouldn’t get out of. He’s a catalyst for us.

Special mention to Shaka coming in for Roy today. He looked sound, untroubled. I didn’t think he had that much to do but he did that well. Tomas Repka has had a couple of tricky games but he showed big balls – if I’m allowed to say that – and I thought he was teriffic.

Is he on beta-blockers? I dunno if they’re on the banned list but yes, he has calmed down. He’s had a couple of tricky games and you’d look at him – you know us – you might think he might get a bit edgy. He was good today – that’s a decent point.

Yes I thought he was very calm. But it wasn’t induced though!