Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew believes that the match officials are partly to blame for the Magpies' defeat to Chelsea last weekend.

The former Premier League champions secured a 3-0 win over the North East side last Saturday, despite suggestions that defender David Luiz should have been sent off following a foul on Demba Ba.

"I would have felt very, very confident going into this period if I had had all of my squad here, but I haven't," said Pardew.

"The biggest problem from the weekend, and perhaps the decision from the referee that would have changed the game, is that we put in more effort against Chelsea than we have done in any other game this season. That's cost us injuries to [Danny] Guthrie and [Steven] Taylor. It just goes to show how important those decisions are.

"It's interesting to see that the referee at our place, who admits to a mistake, and the Bolton referee [who sent off Gary Cahill against Tottenham] have both got games this weekend. I think that's something that is interesting."

Newcastle, who sit sixth in the league table, travel to Carrow Road to play Norwich City on Saturday.