The victory saw the Magpies extend their unbeaten Premier League start to nine matches. Pardew is the first to admit his side's fine start has been unexpected and says the real test of their ability to push on and maintain their top-half challenge is yet to come. Cabaye's superb 80th-minute strike from substitute Sylvain Marveaux's lay-off gave Newcastle a 1-0 victory on Saturday against a bright Wigan side who were disappointed not to get at least a draw. Pardew said: "We appreciate that in the first nine games we've surprised even ourselves, but there are times you have to look at the side and say it must have quality in it to get 19 points. "In three or four games people would say we were fortunate to win. We've had our share of luck, but there is also something else in this team that says we could have a good season. "How big it is depends on results and how well we perform when adversity comes. We haven't had that yet - we've had a settled side and we haven't had the injuries and that helps." That share of luck was certainly apparent at St James' Park where Roberto Martinez's visitors showed few signs of a dismal recent run which has now extended to six straight losses. With Hugo Rodallega starting for the first time in a month after a knee injury, the Latics poured forward with home goalkeeper Tim Krul producing a superb save to deny Victor Moses in the fifth minute. Rodallega should have slammed away a 15th-minute effort that instead flashed wide, and it was not until the 33rd minute that Pardew's men fashioned their first real chance. Jonas Gutierrez dug out a cross from the left and Leon Best met it in the box with a bouncing shot which was superbly parried by Ali Al Habsi at point-blank range. Martinez hailed his side's first-half display, insisting: "We are not getting any luck. I am extremely happy and proud with the manner in which we approached the game." Newcastle wrestled their way back into the contest after the break, with Al Habsi saving from Demba Ba and Wigan looking increasingly willing to settle for a point. Martinez's men were shattered again 10 minutes from time when Marveaux, three minutes after replacing Gabriel Obertan, nodded down for Cabaye to smash the winner. "I've been saying how Sylvain is a good player and he hasn't had the chance," said Pardew. "Today he got a small opportunity and he showed he's a class act." Despite his side's poor run, Martinez will rightly take plenty of positives from their display, in particular the increasing importance of midfielder Ben Watson. Watson was arguably the best player on the pitch and Martinez said: "Ben has a real desire to achieve things and he is a different kind of British player. "Technically he is as good as anyone and players like that are very rare. Ben like the rest of the squad needs to play a massive role if we are going to achieve our aim."
