The forward's third strike since a seven-million-pound switch from German outfit Freiburg in January strengthened the Magpies' grip on sixth place in the Premier League as they saw off Paul Lambert's men.

And Newcastle boss Pardew had high praise for his new number nine, and fellow Senegal international Demba Ba.

"I thought that he (Cisse) had his best game for us today not just in the fact that he threatened the goal but also because his link-up play and his work-rate was right up there with the best in this division," he said.

"I am really pleased that he got the goal and perhaps he should have had two. In training he bangs three or four goals in quick succession and it surprised me that he missed them actually.

"Papiss and Demba were a little bit closer together today and that worked better for us. If you are going to play two out-and-out strikers like they are you have to ask them to work and they really put in a shift because that extra midfield player Norwich had really started to get a grip at times.

"Being able to contain it and deal with it when you have got two goal-scorers on the pitch might have been the difference today."

Newcastle won despite being without midfield force Cheick Tiote due to hamstring trouble, and Pardew said he believes the resilience shown by his players bodes well for the future.

"We had eight senior players today and we have four or five out for the season so we have been unlucky with injuries and I ask players to play in different positions and Yohan Cabaye has had to play in five different positions today," he added.

"Everyone is pulling to get us this finish we need. That is how important a win is in the Premiership. It is the last ten games and so it makes the task doable whereas perhaps if we had lost today winning five out of the last nine would not have been doable because we are not firing on all cylinders.

"We are not balanced and we are not at our best and if you can win when you are not at your best it is a great ingredient to have. Norwich played with an assurance."

"It is easy to look at someone like them and not give them the respect they are due. We did. We knew it would be tough and my players are absolutely elated to have beaten them."

"(Club owner) Mike Ashley said to me after the Sunderland game that was fantastic theatre and he thoroughly enjoyed it. There wasn't much theatre today but there was a real professionalism on the pitch."

"If I had come here as a coach or a manager watching the game you would have to say both teams put in a full stint that in a way stopped the other playing a bit."

"The flair players could have maybe offered a bit more 'je ne sais quoi' (attractiveness) today but my goodness it was a real battle and it is always nice to win a battle."

Norwich City manager Paul Lambert insisted he has 'no fears' about his team's potential to avoid relegation despite the loss.

The Scot remained bullish about his team's survival prospects even though they have taken just one point from their last four games and have slipped to 13th place in the league.

"They don't need me to stand in there and say they were unlucky but that performance will give everyone a big lift," said Lambert.

"We were excellent against Manchester United and lost that as well but in the last couple of weeks that is as good as we have played.

"I always am confident. We have a good lead and we will be fine. I have a great belief in the lads. I trust them 100 per cent that we will win more games than not. I have great trust in them the way they are playing the game. I have no fears.

"I have no worries that we will maintain the necessary momentum because we have been playing well all season. I don’t have a problem with that.

"We are sitting a few points behind, for instance, Swansea, who are sitting eighth and we are just three behind them. We will keep on going. There are still a lot of games to play but we are playing really well."