With what has to be a magnificent 1-0 win yesterday at St. James’ Park against Crystal Palace after a poor first half performance, Newcastle now have to be in with a fighting chance to stay in the Premier League this season with 8 points gained from the last four games and a game at Villa Park next Saturday.
Rafa and the players will go all out to win that game and will train from Monday through Friday next week to prepare fully for what is another vital game for the Newcastle club.
It was easy to pick out the two heroes yesterday with Andros Townsend scoring a sensational winner after 59 minutes from a free kick and Karl Darlow saving a penalty after 70 minutes.
Rafa Benitez congratulates Karl Darlow after fabulous penalty save
Goalkeeper Karl Darlow may have put himself into the annals of Newcastle United history with that brilliant penalty save from former Newcastle player Yohan Cabaye after 70 minutes – it was the first penalty of 10 that Palace have missed this season.
Newcastle still made too many mistakes in the first half which will need to be cut out at Villa Park, but there´s now a light at the end of the tunnel for the team that looked dead and buried four games ago after losing badly at Southampton.
Newcastle are now in 4th bottom place above both Sunderland and Norwich on points and those teams drew at Stoke and lost at Arsenal respectively yesterday.
Both clubs still have a game in hand over Newcastle which will be played in the final week of the season.
This is what Rafa Benitez said after the game:
“It could be important for us. I’m sure it’s important for the fans and everyone now when you see the table. But we still have to keep going.”
“We know that we have to approach the game against Aston Villa like another final, and that’s it. We cannot look too much at the table, we just have to be sure that the next game, we will be ready.”
“We have to win one – the next one – and after, we will think about the other one. That’s the only way.”
“It was a fantastic winning goal, but it was a pity as well. Andros scored a great goal, but he could have scored one or two more.”
“You can say always when a keeper saves a penalty that he is a hero, but then we can say the same with Andros.”
“He did really well, I am really pleased for him – and hopefully he doesn’t need to save any more penalties. That would be fine.”
It was a terrific win yesterday and all credit to our players.
Now we need two more wins to ensure we are safe for next season and Rafa will then definitely be staying with us.
Howay The Lads!!
2 comments so far
whatsup
May 1, 2016 at 4:53 AM
Comment #1Lucky the average R Elliot got injured.
Grafton83
May 1, 2016 at 5:05 AM
Comment #2Andros was just brilliant, every time he had the ball I thought something could happen. Heroics from Darlow too but my MoM goes to the £100m goal scorer