Newcastle manager Alan Pardew admitted the absence of central defenders Steven Taylor and Fabricio Coloccini cost his side dearly at Carrow Road.

Pardew was forced to make changes at the back in the absence of Taylor, who is out for the season with an Achilles injury, and skipper Coloccini, who was absent with a thigh problem.

James Perch and Danny Simpson played at centre-back, but the inexperienced duo failed to handle the Canaries' aerial threat as the Magpies conceded four goals for the first time in a league match this season.

'It's fairly obvious we missed them,' said Pardew, who has also been without Mike Williamson, sidelined by a broken arm and ankle.

'Our squad has been stretched to the limit. Having three first team centre-halves missing is major. Any Premier League team is going to struggle with that.

'We did very well other than the set plays today. Morison and Holt are a handful and so was Hoolahan in behind. They gave us some tough times.

'We expect to have one or two back next week and we certainly need them.

'We can't concede goals from three set plays and expect to win the game.'

Pardew had no complaints with the second-half red card for midfielder Dan Gosling, and said it was a turning point in the game.

'I don't think he has gone to hurt the player, but he was late for sure, so he has put himself in the ball park for being sent off and unfortunately he was,' he said.

'We were right in the game then so that was disappointing. It was a bit of a rash challenge by Dan and that put us under more pressure and we ended up losing the game.'

Pardew was unhappy with referee Martin Atkinson's decision to give the corner which led to Hoolahan's opening goal, as he thought Magpies goalkeeper Tim Krul had not carried the ball out for a corner.

'Tim didn't take it out. He caught it where it was so if it was out, it must have been a goal-kick, not a corner.'