A comeback to salvage a point – but big games coming up could take their toll
RAFA Benitez admitted missed chances cost his side dear against Swansea City after the Premier League’s bottom side left St James’ Park the happier of the two teams on Saturday night.
Newcastle United had 12 shots at goal against the Welsh side but were unable to convert in the first half after being on top.
After the game, Benitez said: “It is something we have seen in the past - we created enough chances to score in the first half and then we conceded.
“It is always difficult to be happy when you draw at home but the main thing is the reaction and how we were pushing at the end.
“We have to learn every single mistake can cost you and we cannot make these mistakes.
“With the first-half chances we could have changed the game but we could not do it and we must take these chances.”
Newcastle fought their way back Chief Sports Writer NEWCASTLE United remain unbeaten in 2018 - but the big question is: What state are the Magpies going to be in by the time they go toe-to-toe with Burnley in their next game at St James’ Park?
By that time, Rafa Benitez will have taken his side to face the might of moneybags Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium and potentially wrestled with a Chelsea side which may see the FA Cup as one of their best chances of winning a trophy this season.
Chelsea, of course, could still be on the end of a shock this week against Norwich City and anything could happen at City, but few will back against the Blues in their FA Cup replay and United have been handed odds of 20/1 to win in Manchester next week!
Benitez opted for some ultradefensive tactics against City before the turn of the year as he tried to scrape something out of the home Premier League clash against the table-toppers.
He insisted last week he never goes into games looking for a draw and instead tries to set up to win the game in the best way he can.
However, with United still embroiled in a relegation battle, the last thing Benitez needs is two potentially bruising and moralesapping defeats. Facing Burnley feeling demoralised is what Benitez will be looking to avoid and while parking the bus against City attracted negative comments from pundits such as Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher Newcastle fans will be able to understand his approach if he did it again on Saturday night.
The counter-argument will be Bristol City went to the Etihad for the League Cup semi-final and gave the Citizens a real fright as they bravely went for the jugular.
True, Liverpool also proved yesterday there are gaps in the City defence but that was with a world-class strikeforce, while the Robins - who were beaten anyway - had nothing to lose in many respects because had they been picked off and thrashed 5-0 nobody would have made a big deal about it because of their divisional status. Yet you can expect TV pundits to have a field day if Newcastle attempted to get in the faces of City and ended up being hammered next weekend. Benitez did his best to win the game against Swansea City at St James’ Park and his tactical game plan created good opportunities for his players. Still, without the quality and proven top-flight striker he craved in the summer, Newcastle were unable to make the breakthrough despite having the better chances against the Swans in the first half. Inevitably, after not taking those chances, Swansea themselves grabbed the lead through Jordan Ayew. Yet to Newcastle’s credit they fought back and a player who has been carrying the weight of some heavy criticism this season in Joselu showed great character to come off the bench and grab a deserved equaliser.