No it didn't. By taking Anita off we started losing all the second balls in midfield.
It helped defend set pieces, which i think was the point of it. Positive it wasn't but helpful it actually was tbf.
Pardew in a nutshell. It helped us not concede instead of making a substitute to help us score. I can't wait for the day he finally leaves.
Wanting Pardew to leave I understand - but it really isn't that odd that a manager might look to protect a 2-1 lead when the impetus has shifted rather than go looking for a third.
I could understand if this was against a good team but looking to protect a lead against one of the worst sides in the league after tearing them apart for 45 mins then coming out for the next 45 looking absolutely petrified of them. If we'd continued in the same vein as the first half we could be looking back at a 4 or 5-1 win but because of his negativity we were happy to hold onto a 2-1 lead. If Carlton Cole or Carroll had scored the simple opportunities they were given we would have gone on to lose the game. I'm sick of having a manager whose not afraid to just go at a team for 90 mins, it's a fucking joke.