Pardew Pleased For His Stand-In Keeper

Alan Pardew hailed keeper Rob Elliot after seeing him mark his European debut with a match-saving display against Maritimo. Alan Pardew: "Rob has waited a long time - since the Forest game, really - to stake his claim. "We know him very well, myself and the goalkeeping coach [Andy Woodman] because of Charlton, and this is a shot-stopper, this is a great goalkeeper. "What he did at the start of the game is what he does in training every day. "He was outstanding, as well as the back four against a really difficult surface and difficult opponents. "Maritimo are a team who are going to surprise teams here. They are very, very good. "Taking all that into consideration, I thought a draw was a great result. ''With the injuries we had before this game, I'm hoping that will be the weakest we have been this season, I hope so. ''We have had three or four injuries that have been costly to us. Having said that, the performance of the team was outstanding, I thought. ''A lot of players were playing their first European game on a pitch which I have to say, was of poor standard for both teams. ''But there was a great application and although we had a first 10 minutes where we struggled a little, after that, I thought we were in control of the game and I am a little bit disappointed we haven't won it with the chances that we had.''

Source: FOOTYMAD