Newcastle United defender Mike Williamson says manager Alan Pardew faced a battle to initially win over the dressing room.

Williamson admits Pardew played the situation perfectly.

He told the Evening Chronicle: "I think maybe last year more than this, there were big characters in the dressing room and as a new manager you have to win them over.

"I think first and foremost you have to win over the lads. That is the most important thing - if you were to impose yourself, you might find it difficult.

"He handled it very well and the given the position we are today, you can't really knock him.

"He came in and he didn't try and change anything, he just kept the momentum going. He didn't try and make some big changes straight away. Over the summer there were more changes, he was implementing his own little things. Fair play, it's worked very well."