NEWCASTLE boss Alan Pardew has called on the FA to take action against Manchester United striker Robin van Persie after a bruising Barclays Premier League clash.

United ran out 3-0 winners on Tyneside after getting off to a flying start, but in a game marred by eight bookings, Pardew was left fuming by a late off-the-ball clash between the Dutchman and Yohan Cabaye which went unseen by referee Howard Webb.

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

"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.

"I didn't see it myself, but I have obviously seen it on the replay and it looks like he has looked at him and put his elbow there."

The prospect of action being taken against his star striker was the only negative for Sir Alex Ferguson on an after- noon when his players tore the Magpies apart.

The Scot said: "It was a great result. To come here and win 3-0 against a very powerful, aggressive Newcastle team, you have to really perform and make sure you keep control of the game, and I think we did that most of the time."

First Jonny Evans was allowed to run on to Van Persie's eighth-minute corner and power a header past Steve Harper, and then full-back Patrice Evra applied a final touch to Wayne Rooney's 16th-minute corner.

Newcastle's misery was complete 19 minutes from time when Tom Cleverley cemented victory with a curling effort from long range.