WEST BROMWICH, England -- Newcastle manager Alan Pardew admitted he thought he was on the brink of the sack before his side embarked on a remarkable run of five successive wins in all competitions.
And he thanked owner Mike Ashley for sticking with him with a thumbs-up gesture to the directors' box in the closing minutes of the 2-0 victory over West Bromwich Albion.
Ashley allegedly told a newspaper reporter Pardew would be sacked if Newcastle lost at Stoke in September but claimed he was joking and the 53-year-old kept his job despite a 1-0 defeat.
But supporters called for his departure, particularly after a 2-2 draw against Swansea that took Newcastle's run to just one victory in 15 Premier League games, which included a 4-0 defeat to Southampton -- and Pardew felt he turned around their fortunes just in time to keep his job.
He said in a news conference: "Everyone was pulling at him [Ashley] when we weren't winning any games and he stuck with me and was very supportive, particularly after the Southampton game.
"I like to think that buys you a bit of time. It bought me just enough time perhaps on this occasion. It was nice to say thank you.
"I particularly want to thank my staff. You need them to be loyal, especially when you are under fire. They trusted me."
But he claimed Newcastle were playing quite well even during their difficult spell, adding: "It is difficult to be manager of Newcastle when you lose and make excuses because they don't wash with our fans. But we weren't too far off at the start of the season, especially [in the draws against] Villa and Palace."
Pardew suggested there was an overreaction among the supporters during United's difficult 2014, saying: "Newcastle are an extreme of any fan. Their emotion when they win, they go mad. When they lose, they go mad too."
Spanish striker Ayoze Perez scored his third goal in as many games and Pardew praised the 1.5 million-pound signing from Tenerife.
He said: "He was highly regarded. We worked hard to bring him to the club. We thought his physicality could be an issue but he has such technical quality you hope it will see you through and it has. That goal was worthy of winning any game.
"He was courted by some big clubs, in particular Porto, and Porto don't sign anyone unless they are a good player."
West Brom manager Alan Irvine admitted that striker Saido Berahino struggled on his first appearance since being called up to the England squad.
He said: "He probably had his poorest game [of the season] but people have poor games. Everybody will ask the question, including myself, of if it is because of what happened during the week but anyone can have a poor game."