Newcastle manager Alan Pardew praises matchwinner Ryan Taylor

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew said it will take a special player to take Ryan Taylor's place in the team as his free-kick earned victory over Sunderland.

Taylor has deputised at left-back after Jose Enrique's move to Liverpool, and his second-half strike helped continue a fine run against the Black Cats.

"That right foot of his is a fantastic weapon," Pardew told BBC Sport.

"We are trying to bring in another left-back, but he will have to be a good one to take Ryan out of the team."

Newcastle have lost only once in 13 league encounters against their Wearside rivals.

And although Sunderland had the upper hand for long periods at the Stadium of Light, their misery was compounded when Phil Bardsley was sent off for a second yellow card.

"We've had some great wins but to get your first away win against your biggest rivals it doesn't get much better than that when you start the season, so we are really pleased," Pardew added.

"In the second half we started creating and started causing them problems and got our goal and in all honesty I thought we were worthy winners."

Taylor's goal ensured that an earlier incident, where Joey Barton's goal-bound header was stopped by Sebastian Larsson's arm, was overshadowed.

The Newcastle players, led by the controversial midfielder, protested to referee Howard Webb and Pardew said their reaction led him to believe it was handball.

But Pardew added: "Perhaps he should have been sent off, but we aren't going to bleat about that. Webb is a fantastic referee and he refereed the game really well."

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce was understandably miserable after the game and rued his side's inability to capitalise on their chances.

"We made enough opportunities," Bruce told BBC Sport. "When you dominate the game, especially in a derby you have to score and unfortunately we never managed to do that."

Bruce admitted he had no complaints with Bardsley's sending off and that "maybe we have got away" with the Larsson handball but said his side needed to respond to another derby defeat.

"I'm not getting the best of results [in this fixture]. Lets hope I'm here for a few more years to come and it starts turning it around," he said.

"We've been beaten in derby game again so in a lot of peoples' eyes that is unforgivable and I can associate with that too."