Crystal Palace manager said his Crystal Palace got what they deserved in the defeat against Leicester City.
Ahmed Musa opened the scoring before Shinji Okazaki doubled the advantage for City, who had won more points in the Champions League than the Premier League before this game.
Christian Fuchs celebrated signing a new three-year deal by netting his first goal from the club with a fabulous 25-yard strike while Yohan Cabaye's late goal was just a consolation for Palace.
"We should have done a little bit better, I thought, but they were good today - Leicester," Pardew said.
"There wasn't much weakness in the team, we had to really work hard for everything in the midfield and then into their back four. They definitely gave us a test today and unfortunately they were better than us.
"I definitely think they were more like it today. I was at the game against Chelsea and they didn't have the same verve and aggression as they had today.
"They made it very, very difficult for us today, but we stood up to it for long periods."
Palace dominated the opening stages and Christian Benteke hit the bar, but Leicester wrestled back control well before Musa put them ahead just before the break.
Benteke also had a header cleared off the line and was denied by Kasper Schmeichel and Pardew felt they didn't get enough support into their striker.
"I thought we lacked support to him at times today," he said.
"He had some great moments again, he won a lot of first contact in the box and perhaps we need to improve as a side and capitalise on the second phase at set plays."