Alan Pardew has blamed defensive injuries for Newcastle United's defeat to Norwich City this afternoon.

The manager was without the services of injured centre-back pairing Steven Taylor and Fabricio Coloccini at Carrow Road, where he saw his side concede four goals, only two coming in reply.

"You can't concede from three set-plays in the Premier League like we did, but any team would struggle with the injuries we've got in central defence," Pardew told BBC Five Live.

"We're still aiming for a top seven or eight finish if we can."

The Magpies are now without a win in four matches.