Rafa Benitez was delighted with the Newcastle performance today at the King Power Stadium against an in-form Leicester City side.
Newcastle continued their great form of late and were 1-0 up through an excellently taken goal from Jonjo Shelvey after only 18 minutes.
And after 75 minutes Ayoze Perez got his second goal in two games as he skilfully lobbed the ball over the Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel.
Rafa Benitez – at Leicester this afternoon
Great skill from Perez and just a brilliant goal by the in-form Spaniard.
Rafa was pleased after the game, and he said we still need 2 points to ensure our safety:
“We’re nearly there, but we still want to get to 40 points,”
“It was a great game. We can talk about the red card and the penalty incident and whatever, but the reality is we deserved to win because we played really well against a very good team.”
“It was important to work really hard and be organized and understand the strengths of the other team and try to stop them.”
“We exploited the weaknesses of the other team really well. We worked great and the work rate and team spirit were great: so I have to say congratulations to my players.”
“Everyone knows we are really close, but you never know in football, so you have to carry on. We have to stay as focused as today.”
“When we get to 40 points, we’ll be fine.”
So it seems to be set up for next Sunday in the early game against Arsenal – it’s a long time since we beat the Gunners.
Maybe next Sunday and then with 41 points we can celebrate survival at the end of the match?
Sounds good to us.
Comments welcome.
12 comments so far
Munster Mag
Apr 7, 2018 at 6:36 PM
Comment #1Role on the gonners. We’ll take them
Tramp
Apr 7, 2018 at 6:40 PM
Comment #2Dummet MOM for me. Love the lad! Rafa has really brought him on strides. Very rare to have an intelligent, left footed, left back who knows when to get forward and when to hold position but more importantly how to defend.
Bigjim67
Apr 7, 2018 at 6:43 PM
Comment #3Munster
I think we will, they won’t be looking forward to coming to sjp. We conceded the goal today but otherwise we are looking very solid at the back and Slimani will be available. Yeah, bring it on!
ShirebrookToon
Apr 7, 2018 at 6:46 PM
Comment #4Pogba has just shafted City with a brace in 5 mins lol
jane
Apr 7, 2018 at 6:48 PM
Comment #5it looked as if none of his team mates went to him to celebrate for both goals.
stretchintoon
Apr 7, 2018 at 6:51 PM
Comment #6Stay up,new owners who will give us ÂŁ200 mill to spend,sell mitro for ÂŁ25 mill to Fulham so we’ll have ÂŁ225 mill to spend & 2 years time back in the champions league! HOWAY THE LADS!
Bambams
Apr 7, 2018 at 6:58 PM
Comment #7What a turn around….
Manure winning
ShirebrookToon
Apr 7, 2018 at 7:00 PM
Comment #8What a game 3-2 Manure.
Canadian Mag
Apr 7, 2018 at 7:03 PM
Comment #9To be fair to city it’s their B team on the field. It’s only worth 250 million, not 500 million
Canadian Mag
Apr 7, 2018 at 7:08 PM
Comment #10That’s 2 penalties and red cards young has gotten away with
ShirebrookToon
Apr 7, 2018 at 7:12 PM
Comment #11Canadian
Aye. Can’t see Pep or Jose doing what Rafa has done. They’ve always had money
Online Guy
Apr 7, 2018 at 7:12 PM
Comment #12Tramp
Dummet reminds me of me old mate Alan Kennedy, Alan made more forward runs .. Alan was the same at school .. bombing down the left . Lot of similarities with Dummet though . Great pace.
I’m looking on at the improvement that Rafa has made to the side and each player ..Solid hard to beat team and full of confidence .. Great Manager, Where would we be with a couple of top class strikers ?
Don’t mess this up Ash.
Any one remember playing In same team as Alan, Washington , Usworth Comp ?