ABSENT BENITEZ DIALS V FOR VICTORY

NEWCASTLE’S players delivered the perfect pick-me-up for Rafa Benitez as he masterminded a victory by mobile. The Toon manager, stuck at his Merseyside home recovering from an operation, gave orders by phone while watching on TV as a header from skipper Jamaal Lascelles sunk Swansea. Fitness coach Miguel Moreno, who took over touchline duties, said: ‘It was exactly what we wanted to deliver to Rafa, no doubt about that. ‘It was everything for him, and for his health, and also doing the job which we all planned to get the three points.’ Benitez might have been ruled out of travelling to South Wales, but he stayed hands-on for the game. Defender Lascelles, who led by example, revealed: ‘The manager rang me in the morning and told me, “Make sure the lads are on it”.’ Moreno revealed the way Newcastle’s management team had stayed in touch during the game. ‘He was talking to us all through the game,’ said Moreno, who has been by the side of Benitez throughout his career after first working with him as a fitness coach at Liverpool. ‘He was talking by phone to Antonio Gomez in the directors’ box, who was sending messages to Mikel Antia on the touchline, who was telling me what he said. Between the four of us we were making all the plans. ‘I have a 100% record as coach now! Hopefully it will be the record for my whole life because Rafa will return soon, and if that is the case I am very happy with that.’ Disappointed Swansea manager Paul Clement admitted: ‘I am baffled and frustrated by our performance. This is a missed opportunity. ‘Although the margin of the defeat is small I’m disappointed with our performance. We were second best in combats, duels, first and second balls, tactics, in all aspects.’ New boy Renato Sanches, on loan from Bayern Munich, had a quiet debut. Clement said: ‘I saw some good things, but he is a player who will get better the more he gets to know us and the culture of the club.’