We came close to great result, says Rafa
RAFA Benitez said his side came close to recording a great result at St James’ Park - despite adopting ultra defensive tactics against Man City.
The Spaniard was pleased with the way his side went about their business against the table toppers.
And he reflected afterwards: “If we’d scored a goal at the end we’d be really pleased with the performance. When you play against Man City the way they are playing now.
“Our fans are clever and they know we needed to do it this way.
“Some of the counter attacks weren’t the best.
“We knew what we had to do and tried our best. We can’t forget we have a couple of games against teams at the bottom in a few days.
“We tried to create something. We had a couple of chances with Rolando and Dwight at the end.”
Newcastle had a penalty shout late on but Gayle was adjudged to have dived in the box.
Benitez had no complaints and said: “He felt a little bit of contact It was quick. I was disappointed because it was a chance. It was a booking and that’s it.”
Benitez confirmed that Isaac Hayden could be back for the weekend clash against Brighton.
Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola admits he had no choice but to adapt to Newcastle United’s ultra defensive tactics at St James’ Park.
The Magpies were beaten 1-0 by the Premier League leaders as they halted Man City’s goalscoring exploits in recent weeks.
After the game the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss said: “Like a manager I have to adapt my team.
“We have played teams playing a press or a counter. We started with a team defending low.
“If you analyse the 90 minutes we worked much better and created plenty of chances.
“They could have scored one goal and it could have been different.
“We were much better. It isn’t easy to maintain focus as people at home are having parties. So it was really good. I was so happy to win again.”
By the end Newcastle almost snatched a point in the game, and Guardiola said his team had to hold on and find a way.
He said: “We analysed Newcastle and they played 4-4-2 many times, but played five at the back here.
“We created enough chances to win. We have to prove we can be solid and we did.” Chief sports writer IT is almost 10 years since Kevin Keegan took to the stage in the St James’ Park press room and told Mike Ashley how it had to be for Newcastle United fans.
Back then Keegan said: “Newcastle fans want to come to this ground and see something worth seeing. They want to enjoy it.
“What they don’t want is for us to go out, play drably, win 1-0 and maybe finish halfway up the table. They want us to have a go and that is why I am here.”
Well, Newcastle are pretty much the polar opposite to Keegan’s dream blueprint on nights like this.
Fast forward almost a decade and Keegan is long gone and the current board have almost run this club into the ground in terms of it being a competitive force.
For all that, United were plucky against moneybags Man City and did their best to stand their ground as the footballing heavyweights rained in with the punches.
In some ways, it was heart-warming to watch this side roll their sleeves up.
In another way it was sad to watch Newcastle - at a ground once entertained regularly – sit back and retreat in the first half.
The current regime have allowed that to happen, though.
Newcastle have staggered backwards ever since Keegan’s words in 2008 and this clash with City was the ultimate example of the club which oozes ambition against the club which scrimps and saves.
No wonder the fans are chanting for change at the top.
That Benitez and his players made a game of this by the end was impressive enough. What chance did the team worth £72million have against the club which boasts a squad worth almost £800million?
Just eight months into Keegan’s stint in charge under Ashley, he knew fine well the club he loved was going to be able to have a go. He left before he lost his sanity.
Amazingly, despite the current Newcastle board depriving the latest manager prepared to attempt to even make a fist of things, United are still attracting 50,000 fans each week.
So what exactly were they watching last night? A team which spent last season scrapping in the Championship mixed with a few players plucked from the bargain basket in the summer after Benitez discovered Ashley was not going to put any serious money into the transfer kitty.
Realistically, what else could Newcastle do at St James’ Park?
Bravely try to attack a City side which has dropped points just once all season in the Premier League?
Do that and you risk being picked off on the counter and suffer a confidence-sapping home defeat ahead of three important Premier League games.
Instead, Benitez tried to make life as difficult as possible and at least stop the flow of goals which had resulted in Pep Guardiola’s side rattling in 60 goals before their trip to Tyneside. There is no point blaming the players, they are trying their best.
Benitez can only do so much with the players at his disposal, despite this now being the worse run of home results since 1953.
Had he nicked a point last night it would have sparked a night of celebration.
Newcastle kicked off with Jonjo Shelvey opting to shoot from the halfway line to warm the hands of Ederson in the opening seconds.
The Magpies had opened up with a five-man defensive rearguard and looked to try to catch City on the break.
However, United spent much of the first 45 minutes encamped in their own half as they tried to absorb the huge pressure on offer from the visitors.