TOON SCRAP XMAS PARTY

NEWCASTLE players have cancelled

Christmas because of their plunge down the league.

Boss Rafa Benitez (above) has revealed that there will be no festivities among the players, including their fancy dress Christmas Party. In the past they’ve dressed as superheroes on an away day– but the Toon boss agreed with his senior stars that would be inappropriate after a run of seven defeats in eight games.

Benitez is facing more misery at Arsenal today, believing fine margins and errors have cost his side points.

He said: “The players have decided to cancel their Christmas party– because they have taken responsibility and they think that it’s important to focus.

“They want to give a very clear message that they care and they want to do things right.

“On the pitch you can win or not, but they realise they have to be focused on doing things right.

“There was no pressure from me.

“I was asking four or five players about it and they were very clear, ‘Oh no, we cannot’ and that was it.

“They talked between themselves and decided. I think that’s very positive.”

Asked if he was at breaking point and shouting at his family, Benitez said: “I don’t have to go home. I can do it in the dressing room!

“I did it at Liverpool when I was in the dressing room and I smashed one of the boxes there. We lost against Middlesbrough. We made mistakes, and smash!”