SWEETEST SUCCESS
Hornets get Cup buzz... but Rafa insists: OUR ‘finals’ are all in the Prem
MIKE ASHLEY might think he’s saving the high street but it was another early closing day for Newcastle in the FA Cup.
The competition is still revered by Toon fans, who often talk with moist eyes of the days of wor Jackie Milburn and the Wembley triumphs of the Fifties.
But for owner Ashley – who seems to prefer trying to keep the likes of House of Fraser, Debenhams and HMV afloat rather than supply the cash for manager Rafa Benitez in the transfer market – another early exit means the Geordies have not got past the fourth round in his 12 years of ownership.
And facing another grim relegation battle, Benitez mixed and matched much to the frustration of the Toon army who believe their club now only pays lip service to the famous old competition.
His decision to remove St James’ Park favourite Matt Ritchie with Newcastle 1-0 down ensured that all the flak wasn’t reserved for Ashley.
“I understand them, but when you have so many games you have to be careful and protect the players sometimes,” Benitez explained. “I am disappointed obviously. I am a professional and convinced about what we have to do at the end, which is to stay up. “Now we don’t have any excuse in terms of what we have to do. Every single game is a final.” But not an FA Cup Final. Those days are long gone at austerity Newcastle. More galling was Watford boss Javi Gracia (above) making