Shelvey sorry for stamping on Spurs star
Chief Sports Writer RAFA Benitez said Jonjo Shelvey has already apologised for his senseless stamp on Dele Alli at St James’ Park.
The Magpies were beaten 2-0 on Tyneside as Tottenham Hotspur took full advantage of the red card with the England international netting the all-important opening goal shortly after.
When asked if he felt let down by captain Shelvey, Benitez said: “It’s not me, it’s everyone.
“We have been talking about that for a while.
“He knows that he had made a mistake, he apologised, but still we lost the game.
“All I’ll say is the rules are the rules and we made a mistake.
“But we will have to see, analyse everything. We cannot change anything.
“Now we have to move forward and think about solutions.
Benitez also felt Harry Kane was lucky to escape with just a yellow card after his late tackle on Florian Lejeune, which ended the Frenchman’s Premier League debut after just 33 minutes.
He said: “I would like to say that the tackle from behind by Harry Kane I think was worse, but the rules are the rules and we paid for that.”
When asked to expand on this thoughts on Kane, Benitez added: “I’d say that is worse because as you saw, I had to change one player and Dele Alli had nothing.”
Benitez was then asked if he felt Kane’s tackle was like a scissor challenge, and simply said: “Yes.”
Shelvey will now be banned until September and Benitez added he cannot be certain whether he can trust him again with the armband.
He said: “We will see in the future, it’s too early.” ACTIONS will speak louder than words at St James’ Park – and Rafa Benitez knows that better than anybody.
On a weekend in which Mike Ashley put his hands up and admitted he’d been naïve about the running of Newcastle United in the past, surely even he could see how ill-equipped his team are for the Premier League challenge ahead this season?
Putting aside unfortunate injury blows for Florian Lejeune and Paul Dummett – and Jonjo Shelvey’s stupidity after a senseless stamp on Dele Alli – the Magpies finished this game with just one permanent summer signing in Javier Manquillo on the field and a borrowed body in Mikel Merino.
The rest of Benitez’s depleted side all played in the Championship last season and, in all truth, didn’t always find life in the second tier easy.
It’s a point that Benitez has been forced to labour all summer but despite his pleas to managing direc- wouldn’t dream of trying to stamp volume was noticeable with tor Lee Charnley, the only message on an opponent right under the James’ Park jumping. that seems to have been transmitted nose of the referee, which is And as a new banner reading to Ashley is that the former Real exactly what Shelvey did at “This is the Gallowgate” Madrid boss is asking for too much. the start of the second was unfurled,
Ashley has claimed he can’t write half to effectively pave there was a real cheques for £200m, but Benitez is the way for Spurs to sense of anticipation merely requesting more Premier take three points. in the air as League quality and not an extrava- After that, Tottenham the noise cascaded gant summer shopping spree. took full down
This game was won by the team advantage as a from Block K of that had more Premier League guile wounded United the 23-year-old in their lockers – something Newcastle crumbled to hand all-seater stand. are lacking badly. the visitors three Newcastle
Harry Kane’s challenge on opening-day points. started the game Lejeune was shocking but he did The day had started with plenty of spark enough to pick up just a yellow card in more optimistic fashion but when Dwight and stay on the field. at St James’ Park. Gayle latched on to the
He knew the boundaries and how Fans have worked hard during the ball on the left-hand side, he far he could push Andre Marriner. summer months to organise a new could only scuff his attempt high
The England international singing section and the increased and wide. St
The Magpies were then forced into an early change when Dummett picked up an injury after just five minutes and was replaced by Jamaal Lascelles with Ciaran Clark switching to left-back.
The Magpies absorbed a spell of pressure from Tottenham and then had a penalty shout on 16 minutes.
However, when Kyle WalkerPeters tripped Gayle in the area the linesman raised his flag for an offside.
Spurs enjoyed the majority of the possession in the first half an hour with 68% of the ball, but Newcastle still posed a threat on the counter.
There was then concern for new signing Lejeune after a dangerous tackle from Kane.
Kane was booked for his trouble