The next challenge is to establish a mid table place.
"It is important we are out of the bottom four because it gives us a new target of mid-table," Pardew said. "The players understand the club wants to progress quickly and for the last 16 or 17 games we have been as good as anyone in this division, except maybe Leeds.
"I am pleased with the win but a bit disappointed as I felt we should have won a bit more comfortably.
"They played a high line and got off lightly I feel, we should have punished them more but it was a tricky and horrible night with the wind and rain so I suppose a good time for a 1-0."