Newcastle’s first league win of the season helped ease some of the pressure on manager Alan Pardew, after the Magpies secured a 1-0 victory over Leicester City on Saturday afternoon.

In a game in which kick-off was delayed due to a scoreboard being loose, the overall quality of the play was ultimately disappointing.

As many Magpies fans will be aware the pre-match stats for United weren’t positive, reading one win in 15 Premier League matches, seven points from 45, and just five league wins in 2014.

Newcastle’s 2-2 draw at Swansea in their last match had given Pardew some breathing space, but with a trip to Tottenham and the visit of Liverpool looming, the game against Nigel Pearson’s Leicester was viewed by many as must-win for the under-pressure boss.

With 18 minutes to go of a dreary game at St James’ Park, Gabriel Obertan scored only his second-ever Premier League goal to win the hosts three points. The Frenchman picked up the ball on a Newcastle break and cut inside before drilling a low effort past Kasper Schmeichel and into the bottom corner.

After the game, Magpies boss Pardew praised his side’s efforts but admitted there’s still work to be done.

He said: “It was a very important win for the football club. It’s never easy to win a Premier League game. They ran us really close. I’m really proud of my players – I thought they gave everything.

“There’s no corner to be turned. We need to win more games. It’s been a long time coming. Hopefully we can build on this. We’re still in a position we shouldn’t be.”