Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has said that the dismissals of two Stoke City players changed the course of their Premier League clash this afternoon.
Pardew's men thrashed visitors Stoke 5-1 at St James' Park, with the travelling side being reduced to nine men inside the first half of the game.
"I thought the Stoke players conducted themselves brilliantly in the second half - against our strike force and down to nine men," said Pardew, according to BBC Sport.
"It was a shame for Stoke because the two sending-offs were a major factor in us winning in the manner we did."
Newcastle's win sees them vying for a Champions League position, currently sitting in sixth place in the Premier League table.
