Newcastle United: Alan Pardew hails Papiss Cisse winner

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew suggested Papiss Cisse's stoppage-time winner against Fulham could have a decisive impact on his side's bid for survival.

Cisse volleyed in at the death to give the Magpies a 1-0 victory that lifts them five points above the drop zone.

"No money can buy how important that is to us as a football club," said Pardew.

"It was a fabulous goal and goes to show a team who won't give in and will battle to the end. I said to the team we just need to find a way and we did."

The Magpies were on course for a draw that would have left them only two points and two places clear of the bottom three.

Despite hitting the bar once and the post twice, they could not find a breakthrough as mid-table Fulham looked set to secure a draw.

However, Cisse would have one last chance and he controlled Yohan Cabaye's shot before volleying past Mark Schwarzer.

It moves Newcastle to 13th place on 36 points before the Tyne-Wear derby against fellow strugglers Sunderland next Sunday.

"I inherited that West Ham team in the Championship [in 2003] that had gone down on 42 points," said Pardew.

"You can't underestimate this year that it might be a points total like that you need, so we're far from safe yet.

"The whole bottom half is looking over their shoulder, so we've still got work to do."

Newcastle's immediate priority is Thursday's Europa League quarter-final second leg at home to Benfica.