A Fab new year

Newcastle United's Fabricio Coloccini (left) and Everton's Leighton Baines in action

Coloccini captained Alan Pardew’s side to a 3-2 victory over Everton yesterday.

Papiss Demba Cisse, Ayoze Perez and Jack Colback were on target for Newcastle, who had to come from behind after conceding an early goal.

Arouna Kone gave Everton a fifth-minute lead, but Cisse hit back before the break.

And Perez and Colback put the game beyond Everton, who pulled one back through substitute Kevin Mirallas.

“I think we did the most important thing, which was getting a result,” Coloccini said.

“We lost a few games, and it was important for our confidence.

“It was difficult. We went on the pitch with ambition to win the game, and then we went 1-0 down.

“After that, I think we played well.

“We created many chances, and maybe we should have score more goals.”

The result ended a run of three successive league defeats, and helped stabilise the club’s position in the top half of the league ahead of the New Year’s Day home game against second-from-bottom Burnley.

“We’ve played against big, big teams in the last few games,” said Coloccini.

“Now we get confidence again with a good result.

“We have another game at home. It’s important for us to stay in the top 10.”

Last season Newcastle’s campaign unravelled after the New Year.

And the challenge for Coloccini and his team-mates is to improve their position in the second half of the campaign.

“Last year we had a good first half of the season, then not so well,” said the 32-year-old.

“We’re going to try to change that.”