We are on our own and have to fight
BOSS RAFA ADOPTS SIEGE MENTALITY GOOD FRIDAY TO REMEMBER OR FORGET? HOW TWO
RAFA Benitez feels a siege mentality could be needed from Newcastle United players and fans in the last four matches of the Sky Bet Championship season.
Like the supporters, Benitez was left baffled by a host of decisions which went against his side in the 1-1 draw against Leeds.
Referee Chris Kavanagh failed to spot obvious fouls on Aleksandar Mitrovic, then Luke Ayling pulled back Chancel Mbemba for a clear penalty before a questionable amount of stoppage time was added to allow Chris Wood to grab an equaliser.
Around 2,000 fans are making the long journey to Ipswich for tomorrow’s latest crunch fixture in the promotion race.
Ahead of the game, Benitez issued a fresh rallying call, saying: “I think the fans realise after these four or five games we don’t have an explanation why (things are going against Newcastle) and they realise they have to support the team because we are on our own and we have to fight for ourselves.”
However, Benitez took plenty of encouragement from the performance against Leeds.
Indeed, for much of the game, it was Newcastle who were on the front foot.
The wild celebrations from Leeds at the end suggested Garry Monk’s side AS the game ticked towards full-time, Huddersfield looked as if they were going to drop another two points and hand Newcastle the opportunity to extend their advantage to third place.
However, a bizarre decision handed the Terriers an excellent opportunity to score an injury-time winner.
Jordan Hugill, who had scored Preston North End’s second, and Elias Kachunga allegedly clashed off the ball - though unless you were at the John Smith’s Stadium you would not know it.
Play had moved towards the centre circle and the TV cameras panned towards the action so there is no actual footage available of precisely what Ref Chris Kavanagh; right, Rafa Benitez was relieved to emerge with something out of the game.
Benitez added: “After that performance, if you say to anyone who is a Newcastle fan the team will do well in the next games and get the points we need they would say yes.
“We played really well and it was a pity not to take three points.
“I am not pleased because we could not get the three points but I am happy with the performance and the way the players have reacted.
“We have suffered a defeat and made mistakes but we should have won easily against a good team and the performance of the team was so good we have to be positive.” happened in the Huddersfield area. What is clear, however, is there was some sort of coming-together between Hugill and Kachunga which the assistant referee deemed to be a foul.
Referee Lee Probert did not actually see the incident himself - which supposedly involved a push and a stamp.
He spoke to his assistant, booked Hugill and then pointed to the spot -
Another packed schedule in the Championship sees Brighton face a tough game against relegation-haunted Wigan tomorrow.
Once Newcastle’s game at Ipswich is all over it will then be all eyes on Derby’s home game with Huddersfield, which is a televised 5.00 kick-off.
Benitez said: “We just have to win our games to go up and then see where we are but we can do nothing now.
“I think we have to give credit to the players we had on the pitch.
“They did a great job and I am happy with them and I was not thinking about the players not on the pitch.
“They had to give everything, they did it, we had a lot of chances, their goalkeeper was the man of the match and then we have decisions which I don’t understand.”
Meanwhile, the Brighton dressing room was understandably upbeat after Friday’s 2-0 victory over Wolves.
Their star man Anthony Knockaert said: “We know we are so close but it is up to us and no-one else.
“It is about what we can do on Monday against Wigan and then we will see what happens.
“If we win on Monday then it puts massive pressure on Huddersfield because they know if they drop points we will be in the Premier League mathematically.
“It is massive for us but we need to keep focusing on our game first, then we will see what happens.” despite the North End players’ furious protests.
Preston boss Simon Grayson certainly was not happy, stating: “I have spoken to the players and the referee about the penalty decision and seen it on DVD and it is clear Jordan did not push him.
“It was a very poor refereeing decision.
“I don’t go to see a referee very often but I do when I feel I have a genuine complaint. It is a more than disappointing decision.
“The referee says he has pushed him and stamped on him but he must have decent vision to see that.”
Despite Preston’s protests, Aaron Mooy stepped up to take the questionable penalty - only to see his low effort well saved by North End stopper Chris Maxwell.
Yet it was the home side who reacted quickest, Collin Quaner pouncing on to the rebound to squeeze the ball between Maxwell and the near post from a tight angle to hand Huddersfield an unlikely - and also controversial - victory.