Toon so much improved since being stung by the Hornets
AS Newcastle United prepared for their trip to Vicarage Road this week, safe in the knowledge they would be a Premier League side again next season, Rafa Benitez was able to look back and reflect on arguably the lowest point of the Magpies’ campaign.
Given Newcastle’s imperious form during the first four months of 2018, it is easy to forget they endured a nine-game winless streak in the lead up to Christmas – a run which plunged the Magpies into deep relegation trouble.
Yet it was the fourth game of that spell – which also happened to be a fourth successive loss – which sent shockwaves across Tyneside.
Not only did Watford triumph at St James’ Park on November 25, they coasted to a 3-0 victory. The Hornets were better than Newcastle in every facet of the game that day.
In Benitez’s post-game press conference, he was visibly frustrated by his side’s performance.
DeAndre Yedlin and Matt Ritchie had endured a torrid time down the right flank, while Rob Elliot did not provide the dominant display Benitez sought from his goalkeeper – and was subsequently dropped for United’s next match.
Yet Benitez did not let his emotions get the better of him - he remained outwardly calm and stressed his inexperienced team would improve as the campaign wore on.
Little more than five months on and United head to Vicarage Road three places and three points ahead of Watford in the table – and Benitez believes his team have improved exponentially during that time, even if they have lost their last two games by a 1-0 margin.
The Spaniard recalled: “I think the Watford game was one of the lowest points of the season.
“It was a bad game against a good team who have good players and who were doing well at the time, and we could not manage games as well a s this time. “Always I say that, when you can score one goal, or you have a chance, you have to take your chances – and then maybe we did not do it in these games and they were better than us. “Everything has changed now. “We had a target, we achieved that objective early – and now we are in a situation like them. “Both teams are safe, we are in the middle of the table, and in some ways these games are more difficult because to have the extra motivation as players, that is the key if you want to continue playing well.
“It is not that the players are not running – we have all the data and they are still running – it is just that extra mile and extra little bit you need to get the three points when you really need them - you don’t necessarily have that.
“It is not just us who are affected by that, it is the same for the majority of the teams in the middle of the table.”
While January signings Martin Dubravka and Kenedy have undoubtedly helped Newcastle improve during the second half of the campaign, the rest of the United squad have also raised their levels too.
Benitez always insisted his inex-
The Watford game was one of the lowest points of the season. It was a bad game against a good team Rafa Bentiez