Boss pleased Toon are keeping it clean
RAFA Benitez is pleased with the traits his Newcastle United team are showing after their poor start to the season. Defeats against Tottenham Hotspur and newlypromoted Huddersfield Town had the alarm bells ringing at St James’ Park, while an early League Cup exit to Nottingham Forest did little to lift the mood of supporters. However, Newcastle have responded in a terrific manner since then, with two victories over West Ham United and Swansea City, and now find themselves in the top 10. Benitez is pleased with the work ethic of his team and told the Chronicle: “It is always important to win but if you can also secure a clean sheet that is even better. “That gives the team more confidence. “Sometimes we end up talking about strikers too much but the goalkeepers and the defenders are also key.
“The whole team has defended well if you end up with a clean sheet.
“Everything you have done in training sessions must have gone well if you get one.
“That has to be the way.” Stoke go into the clash at St James’ Park after a war of words between Jose Mourinho and Mark Hughes last weekend.
In short, Mourinho felt Stoke are a long-ball team who don’t think twice when it comes to the rough stuff in the Premier League.
However, Benitez does not agree with the Manchester United manager’s assessment of the Potters.
He added: “Stoke have a lot of good players.
“They have strong defenders but they also have players with quality in the middle of the park who can control the ball.
“They have people who can play the ball and they have players with pace and ability.
“Stoke are a team who have a good mix.
“They can play good football on the floor and long balls if necessary.
“I don’t think they are a team who especially play direct football or long balls. They can play on the floor.”
Yet regardless of how Stoke set up at St James,’ Benitez has warned his team they must match them for work-rate and endeavour.
He went on: “It does not matter. We have to play against everyone and the tactics are different each week.
“If you can manage you will be stronger. If you cannot then you are going to have problems with different styles of football.
“You have to try to manage as much as you can.”