Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley visited the locker room after victory over Leicester City.
The day ended with the owner - who made it clear his concern for the club's fate with his "relief" aside - mingling with the Newcastle players and Pardew issuing another defence of the sportswear magnate, who he insists is "committed" to United and "loves" it, says the Evening Chronicle.
After a nervy, edgy 90 minutes which saw Newcastle win in the Premier League for the first time since May the famously reticent to comment Ashley was heard telling a friend in the director's box: "That was a relief."
Toon boss Alan Pardew said: "It was a surprise. "We didn't expect to see him. He spent about ten minutes congratulating everyone.
"If anyone has ever doubted his commitment you saw it there. He was as happy as any fan at the win. I teased him about the cheap telly and he took that in good spirits. We all had a bit of a laugh about it.
"That is the first time since I have been here that he has been on the dressing room straight after the game. It shows what that result meant to him."
