Newcastle picked up a hard-fought point after a goalless draw at West Ham but remain in relegation peril.
Newcastle boss Alan Pardew felt his side's battling goalless draw at West Ham proved there is no rift in the camp at St James' Park. "It was a very important performance because there was a lot of myths and reporting that was unfair on us and we had to show that wasn't the case and that we were a strong team and have got spirit in the group," noted Pardew. West Ham first-team coach Neil McDonald felt the officials got it right in not awarding Papiss Cisse a goal during the 0-0 draw with Newcastle. McDonald said: "If most of the ball is over the line it has to be all of it, but we thought from replays we saw it was not over the linePremier League: Newcastle earn goalless draw at West Ham