Pardew slams Van Persie in elbowing row
NEWCASTLE UNITED 0 vs MANCHESTER UNITED 3
NEWCASTLE manager Alan Pardew called on the Football Association to investigate Manchester United striker Robin van Persie for elbowing after the Magpies slipped to a heavy home defeat.
Early headers from defenders Jonny Evans and Patrice Evra gave the visitors a cushion, and midfielder Tom Cleverley curled a late third to lift United into second in the Premier League.
Newcastle thought they had made it 2-1 when Papiss Cisse’s header needed a desperate clawing save from David de Gea, but it was ruled not to have crossed the line – and Pardew was further vexed by Van Persie. The former Arsenal man tangled with Yohan Cabaye off the ball in an incident missed by referee Howard Webb.
“He has looked at Yohan and he has elbowed him, and I think that perhaps needs to be looked at,” said Pardew. “That was just a little bit unsavoury. I’ve seen it on the replay and it looks like he has put his elbow there.”