Newcastle 0 - 2 Man City

Roberto Mancini's men moved back to the top of the table on goal difference with a tense 1-0 victory over Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium on Monday evening.

With two games remaining, the blue half of Manchester hold the most slender advantage but face a real test this weekend against the UEFA Champions League-chasing Magpies, while United are at home to Swansea later in the day.

And Pardew believes that their midweek success at Chelsea, coupled with some equally impressive results against the top clubs earlier in the season, will stand them in good stead despite suffering a 3-1 defeat away to City back in November.

Great feat

He said: "We've closed the gap since we last played City, even though we were upbeat back then.

"We've taken points off Liverpool, Spurs, Arsenal and United - and City are the only ones we have not.

"So it's there for us to take points off all the top teams. That would be a great feat and I think we can do it.

"We'll see who comes out on top but we have the advantage because we're at home and our fans make a huge difference to us.

"Our fans really believe in this team they're excited after Chelsea so the ground will be absolutely jumping."

Trigger

Pardew believes the return to the fold of Carlos Tevez has given Mancini's side the impetus they need to wrestle control back from United, with the Argentina international back in the side following his self-imposed exile earlier in the campaign.

"City have got their tails up," he added. "They were the best side early on but then kind of lost their way.

"But they have found it again at just the right time and the Carlos Tevez situation being resolved was the trigger for that."We'll see who comes out on top but we have the advantage because we're at home and our fans make a huge difference to us.Alan Pardew