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Cisse: "My Most Important Goal"
Written by Newcastle Utd
Papiss Cisse spoke to nufc.co.uk about a simple - but crucial - winner for the Magpies against Stoke
By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Managing Editor
It may not have been one of his most spectacular, but Papiss Cisse believes Sunday's winner against Stoke was the most important goal of his Newcastle United career to date.
Cisse netted a dramatic stoppage-time strike to earn the Magpies a 2-1 victory at St. James' Park, as they came from behind to claim all three points, after Yohan Cabaye's free-kick had earlier cancelled out a Jonathan Walters penalty.
In his 14 months on Tyneside, Cisse has made a habit of making the net bulge in eye-catching fashion, as Southampton, Chelsea, Aston Villa and Swansea will all testify.
But Sunday's effort - his 22nd in just 49 games in the black and white stripes - was much more straightforward, with a close-range finish from Sylvain Marveaux's sublime pass.
They all count though, and Cisse was delighted with a crucial win for United, even if his own performance was below par.
"It was three really important points for us," the striker told nufc.co.uk in an exclusive interview.
"I scored the last goal in the last minute and the whole team is happy. We kept going, we never gave up and the goal finally came. It doesn't always but today it did.
"It was the most important goal for me because it was so important for the team, moving us up the table. Today we have climbed a few places and we are now near the middle, rather than bottom.
"We deserved it. We weren't at our best but we deserved to win.
"The gaffer told me I was rubbish today. Yes, I was rubbish but we won so that is the most important thing!
"In the last week I have been ill and even today I didn't feel too strong, but hopefully by next week I will be back to normal."
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