BENITEZ BLASTS BACK

Beaten Toon boss defends ‘boring’ tag

NEWCASTLE boss Rafa Benitez has hit back at criticism of his defensive tactics during yesterday’s 2-1 defeat at home to Chelsea, as he insisted: ‘You have to drive the car you have.’ MailOnline revealed before the game that Benitez had dropped skipper Jamaal Lascelles after a training-ground fallout over the manager’s intention to play with three centre backs in a five-man backline. Newcastle had just 19 per cent of the possession against Chelsea and Jamie Redknapp told Sky Sports their players would have been ‘ embarrassed’ by the gameplan.

But Benitez said: ‘You have to drive the car you have. When I was with Liverpool we beat Real Madrid 4-0 at home, when I was at Napoli I was attacking all the time. I’d like to play with five strikers if I could. But when I am at Newcastle I have to manage, I have what I have.’

Elsewhere, Watford’s 2-1 win over Crystal Palace was marred by Etienne Capoue avoiding a red card for raking his studs down the right leg of Eagles forward Wilfried Zaha.

Burnley were beaten 4-2 away at newly-promoted Fulham.