Smells like Toon spirit for Benitez
NEWCASTLE CAN CASH IN AT AMEX
THE emotive words of Newcastle’s young captain Jamal Lascelles were not the usual string of bland cliches.
You know the usual suspects, gems like: We’re only looking forward to the next game or We’re hopeful of a solid performance.
Lascelles had just scored again to give the Toon a battling win from behind against Stoke – and he didn’t hold back about the buoyant mood in the Toon camp.
“We can really get about the pitch and get down in people’s boots,” he declared.
“We have big characters and a good mentality, no big-time players. Everybody has to work 110 per cent – if they don’t, they will be sat on the bench. Individually and collectively, we roll up our sleeves.”
Then we had a quick look at Newcastle’s stats this season - and they made interesting reading, too.
Rafa Benitez’s boys have the lowest passing accuracy and the second lowest possession. Yet they’ve won three on the trot. It all had echoes of Leicester City from THAT season.
We’re not predicting another title win. But the Toon players clearly enjoy their fast, passionate counter-attacking style.
They are a juicy 19/10 (BetVictor) to win at Brighton tomorrow. Fill your boots.