BENITEZ: NEXT THREE MONTHS KEY FOR US
Rafa Benitez says the next three months will make or break Newcastle United’s season.
The club is 19th in the Premier League after failing to win any of its first eight games.
Manchester United came from two goals down to beat Benitez’s side 3-2 at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Newcastle have played five of last season’s top six so far this season, and Benitez is looking for his team to capitalise on a run of more winnable fixtures between now and the New Year.
“For me, the next three months will be crucial,” said manager Benitez. “We have important games in October and November, and then there are a lot of games in December.
“In the next three months, we’re going to be playing against a lot of teams who are around us, and at our level. We have to go and pick up the points from these games.
“By the end of December, we will see where we are.”
Newcastle owner Mike Ashley watched the team for the third successive game. Ashley sat with managing director Lee Charnley and associates Justin Barnes and Keith Bishop.
“I think everybody can see where we’re at – it’s not just Mike Ashley,” said Benitez.
“Everybody can see that the team’s working so hard and doing so many good things, but we were playing against one of the top six, and you cannot compete against them player for player during 90 minutes.
“We have to do everything well as a team, and we did it. But when you make mistakes, they score and the game changes.”
Newcastle’s performance belied their place in the league and they struck the first blow in the seventh minute.
Nemanja Matic failed to cut out a pass and Ayoze Perez put in Kenedy behind the United backline, where he confidently cut away from Ashley Young and sent a low shot past David De Gea.
It was soon two. Jonjo Shelvey’s cross into the box was not dealt with and Yoshinoro Muto turned to rifle a low shot past De Gea.
The remarkable start continued and De Gea had to be alert to stop a long-range Shelvey strike.
De Gea saved his side from further embarrassment after Scott McTominay lost Muto to get away a closerange header and Ashley Young was perhaps fortunate not have a penalty awarded against him for handball - something Muto also appeared to get away with.
The hosts were much better after thew break and Juan Mata gave the fans hope when beating the wall and goalkeeper Dubravka to reduce the deficit in the 70th minute.
Fellaini, Chris Smalling and Paul Pogba all had attempts before Anthony Martial, a pest throughout the second period, lifted the roof. Collecting the ball back from Pogba on the left-hand side of the box, the Frenchman struck home a low shot in front of the Stretford End.
The home side continued to press but, just as the winner looked set to evade them, Sanchez landed the killer blow.
Dropped to the bench after a poor start to the season, the diminutive substitute met Young’s cross with a header that had Old Trafford in raptures.