Pardew fearing Ba departure as striker ends Magpies losing run
NEWCASTLE UNITED 3
WIGAN ATHLETIC 0
NEWCASTLE manager Alan Pardew insists that striker Demba Ba wants to stay at the club after his brace helped the Magpies end a run of four Premier League defeats and beat 10-man Wigan.
Ba struck from the spot in the 12th minute after Maynor Figueroa was sent off for bringing down Papiss Cisse. The former Hammers striker then tapped in a second after Ali Al-Habsi spilt Davide Santon’s strike.
Wigan failed to seriously trouble Tim Krul before Gael Bigirimana wrapped up the victory from long range with a spectacular curling shot on 71 minutes.
Ba is able to leave Newcastle in January if a £7.5m release clause in his contract is triggered by a rival club but Pardew is hopeful that the Senegal international, who has scored 10 league goals this season, will sign a new deal at the club.
“The situation has never changed, Demba loves it here and understands it’s a football city,” said Pardew.
“We’ve tried to do a deal and take the clause out, we’ve not managed it yet so it’s always there hanging over us and that makes it difficult for me, for Demba and the club.”