IT AIN’T ALL ROVER YET
Magpies faithful desperate for Rafa to stay put
v7.45pm,
0-1 on aggregate
FOREST Green Rovers boss Mark Cooper has issued a simple rallying call ahead of tonight’s League Two play-off semi-final second leg.
His side trail 1-0 going into a match between two sides who know about winning play-offs having followed each other in making the jump from the National League by that route in successive seasons.
Cooper said: “We’re going to go for it. I asked the players at half-time at Tranmere to be heroes. They were superheroes.” Cooper’s men will be back to full strength having been reduced to 10 men after 15 minutes on Friday.
RAFA BENITEZ remained silent on his Newcastle future – but the noise from Toon fans was deafening.
“Rafa Benitez, we want you to stay,” they chanted before, during and after this rout, in front of watching owner Mike Ashley.
Hundreds even waited behind an hour after the game to make sure Benitez got the message as he walked on to the team coach.
The Spaniard’s future is on the line ahead of showdown talks with Ashley. But the controversial businessman should be in no doubt after being handed four more good reasons to do everything to keep his manager.
The ex-Liverpool boss repeatedly shirked questions on whether he would remain and said: “I am really proud of this group of players, giving everything in every game.
“The fans have been so good this season. I could say it has been a surprise, but no. They have been really good all season, since I have been here they have been fantastic. I have been trying my best to give them something back. The owner came to see us, and to thank all the players very much in the dressing room. We have a meeting, hopefully next week. We will see where we are.
“He said congratulations, we were in dressing room, he was talking with me and with the team. He said thank you for the season, I said nothing special.
“He was congratulating the team. I don’t know when I will see him, but next week hopefully, as soon as possible.
“We have been talking about my future for a while, and my answer FULHAM: NEWCASTLE: REF: ATT: is always the same. We have a meeting coming very soon and we will see where we are.
“I can see the potential of this massive club, and hopefully we can do things in a way that are good for everyone to move forward, maybe together. It’s just keep talking and see what happens next week.”
Newcastle went 2-0 up inside 11 minutes. A wonder strike from Jonjo Shelvey, from the edge of the area, broke the deadlock on nine minutes, following Matt Ritchie’s corner.
Then Ayoze Perez punished a Sergio Rico error from Christian Atsu’s cross two minutes later.
Fulham confirmed Scott Parker’s appointment as new manager this week, but the expectations of Shahid Khan are high, as the chairman used his programme notes to demand automatic promotion next term.
Not on this evidence. Newcastle ran riot with Fabian Schar heading in from Ritchie’s 61st-minute corner, before Salomon Rondon added a fourth in the last minute, scoring at the second attempt.
Parker admitted: “We were lacklustre and lacked conviction.
“It gives me a clear idea of what needs to be done at this football club. Standards need to go up in every department.”
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