Benitez remaining upbeat - despite a hat-trick of defeats

RAFA Benitez is not reading too much into Newcastle United’s recent run of three consecutive defeats in the Premier League.

The Spanard, though, would like to see more complete performances after patchy displays in the last two games against Bournemouth and Manchester United.

Despite the 4-1 loss at Old Trafford, Benitez was not too critical of his players.

When asked if some of his side were close to being dropped, he told the Chronicle: “If you analyse the performances of the team we could have won it in the first half against Bournemouth.

“After all, we did have a legal goal disallowed.

“We could have been well ahead on that day then conceded right at the end.

“The performance against Man United in the first half was also good.

“I am not happy with just 30 minutes, of course, we must play 90 minutes with the same intensity at the same level and create chances.

“At least you could see the team had a clear idea of what to do.

“There was effort there. You cannot blame players for not giving everything out there or not trying.”

Benitez has players like Rolando Aarons, Chancel Mbemba and Jesus Gamez all pushing for starts while some fans want to see Aleksandar Mitrovic given a chance. Speaking about the players who are getting their game in his starting XI, Benitez added: “If you see them training every week then you would feel they deserve more chances to play. “If you have to adjust with substitutions you will do it. “I think the group are working so hard you have to trust them.” “We have experience and we know if we want to have a chance of staying in the Premier League and achieve other things we have to stick together.

“We have to listen to the ideas and the gameplan.”

Benitez insists he will not hesitate to make changes if things are not going well against the Hornets this afternoon.

He said: “If we have to adjust things (from the bench) we can but in general we have to keep looking at the Premier League the same way and managing the group.

“We will continue to promote competition for places, it is what we have done at clubs for years.

“The target is different here. Some of the clubs we have been at we have been trying to win titles or finish second or third or win a trophy.

“Here our target is to compete against any team, any game.

“If we do that we can win 1-0 or lose 1-0 - like Bournemouth, Burnley or Swansea or Crystal Palace.”