RITCH PICKINGS
Matt’s winner keeps Toon on course for money-spinning Prem return
We need to be more relaxed. We are so close RAFA BENITEZ
RAFA BENITEZ appealed for calm from Newcastle fans and players as his Championship leaders moved a step closer to an immediate Premier League return.
Dwight Gayle’s 22nd of the season and Matt Ritchie’s 10th league goal was the difference between the league leaders and strugglers Wigan, who look doomed despite another brave performance.
Although Michael Jacobs’ deft goal offered a glimmer of hope to caretaker Graham Barrow’s side, Newcastle’s unbeaten home record against Wigan never looked in doubt.
Benitez was satisfied with the three points which keep them top. The added bonus of a late winner for Burton Albion at Huddersfield means they are now 10 points clear of the play-off places.
And Benitez said: “I said before this is a mini-league of eight games and now we have seven, and we have to carry on and concentrate on ourselves.
“We have three points in this mini-league. You have to be happy with a win, especially at this stage. We had 18 shots on target and we would like to score five goals and be more relaxed but at the moment we have to be sure to win our games.
“We showed character and personality and managed the situation under pressure. There are a lot of little things we can improve. Everybody can feel we are so close. We have to do well and not suffer in matches but it is like this in this division. We make sure we are refreshed, we will change two or three things and hopefully do better against Burton.
“The main thing was to get the three points. We knew it was going to be difficult because we watched Wigan and they keep the ball and pass it well.
“We had chances but we didn’t take them. Sometimes it is just the final pass and we need to relax a little bit in front of goal.”
Gayle put Newcastle in front in the 36th minute when he tapped Mo Diame’s cross home from close range to finish a swift move. Until then, only Jonjo Shelvey and Jamaal Lascelles had come close to troubling Wigan keeper Matt Gilks.
The visitors stunned another 50,000-plus St James’ Park crowd with a goal five minutes after the restart from Jacobs who neatly lifted the ball over Karl Darlow in the area.
But they were only able to hold on for seven minutes before Ritchie’s effort bounced off the turf and the post to beat Gilks to complete another good move. Vurnon Anita, Shelvey and Paul Dummett were all involved, and a ricochet from Yoan Gouffran’s air shot ran into Ritchie’s path.
Newcastle were always comfortable and Ritchie should have killed the game nine minutes from time but hit Gilks’ legs. The Scotland international was also accused by Barrow of diving to try and win a penalty under Jake Buxton’s challenge in the dying minutes, which Newcastle assistant Mikel Antia took objection to. The pair had to be separated by fourth official Robert Jones.
Barrow said: “They thought it was a penalty and I thought it was a dive, but my eyes are going. It was the heat of the moment.
“I am disappointed with the result but proud of the players. I had seven or eight days to work with them and it showed.
“At 1-1 I thought we were in with a chance and we could go on and win it, but they got the rub of the green on the second.”