Pardew: 'On form...from start to finish'

Alan Pardew believes it is no surprise United are finishing their Premier League season with a flourish - having started it in exactly the same way. While many pundits predicted a struggle for the Magpies this term, they began the 2011/12 campaign with an 11-game unbeaten league run, going until the middle of November before tasting defeat. That, according to some, would be enough to see the Newcastle bubble burst, but Pardew's men have continued to defy expectations, and with just four games of the season remaining are sat fourth in the top flight. United go into Saturday's away fixture at Wigan on the back of six successive victories, which is perfect form at the perfect time in the eyes of the boss. "It's always good to have momentum," said Pardew. "We started the season fabulously, with one of the best starts we've ever made, and we are finishing in the same token. "All season we have been in the top six. There's no mystery that we're in there. "But we have hit our best form at just the right time. The last ten games is what it's all about in any football season, and we go into our seventh game of that period with six wins." This recent spell has seen victories over Norwich, West Brom, Liverpool, Swansea, Bolton and Stoke, with United at times looking unplayable at both ends of the pitch. But for the manager there is still only one contender for Newcastle's display of the season, and it came back at the start of January. "I still think our best performance was against Manchester United," revealed Pardew. "To win 3-0 against the champions was our game of the season - I don't think we're ever going to top that. "But we have played well just recently. Some of our movement and interplay has been very difficult for the opposition."However, we have got to keep producing it - it's no good saying 'the last two games have been terrific'. "It's about the next game and our next game is Wigan. I've got great respect for the playing staff and manager there, and it will be a tough game." After Wigan on Saturday, the Magpies are left with just three fixtures - trips to Chelsea and Everton, which sandwich a home game against Manchester City. It is by no means an easy run-in, but Pardew explained he and his players are relishing every match. "We know we've got a difficult run, and on paper you could say it is more difficult than the other contenders," said the boss. "But teams have still got to beat us. We are in great form, we are under no pressure and the guys are just really looking forward to the games - they can't come round quick enough for us."