Last updated on .From the section Football

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew says the Football Association needs to take action against Manchester United striker Robin van Persie.

Van Persie was involved in an off-the-ball incident with Magpies midfielder Yohan Cabaye as the Red Devils won 3-0.

"He has looked at Yohan and he has elbowed him," said Pardew. "I think that perhaps needs to be looked at, if I am honest.

"Yohan wouldn't have gone down if he hadn't done something."

The FA can review the incident if referee Howard Webb did not see it.

Pardew said he had not seen the second-half clash involving Dutch international Van Persie and France midfielder Cabaye as it happened but had watched it on replay.

"There's a bit of history from last year and I don't know if Robin has been caught up in that, but that was just a little bit unsavoury," added the Magpies boss.

Manchester United moved up to second in the Premier League table with the win.

"It was an excellent performance," said United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, whose side lost 3-2 to Tottenham in their previous league game and were beaten 3-0 in the corresponding fixture last season.

"We were focused and the concentration was terrific. It's not easy coming to Newcastle. They're a big, aggressive team."

The visitors were 2-0 up inside the first 15 minutes thanks to headers from defenders Jonny Evans and Patrice Evra.

Defending dynamos The last time two different defenders scored in the same Premier League match for Man Utd was 04/01/94 when Gary Pallister and Denis Irwin netted against Liverpool

Tom Cleverley then added a third from distance in the 71st minute, although Ferguson believes the midfielder was actually trying to cross the ball.

"I don't think Cleverley tried a shot, but you take these things," said the Scot.

Ferguson also praised centre-backs Evans and Rio Ferdinand.

"Newcastle make you play and work," he said. "We handled the aerial stuff they threw at us. Rio Ferdinand and Jonny Evans were terrific."

Pardew believes the early goals "killed" his team.

"We couldn't live with them," he said. "The two goals killed us. However, in the first few minutes of the second half we were terrific."