‘Magpies did everything but score’

RAFA Benitez has said he can’t complain about the way his side performed against Brighton.

Amid the gloom of sinking to the bottom of the table and further fan unrest before the kick-off, the Magpies managed to conjure up 27 goal attempts.

Ultimately, they emerged with nothing from the game but Benitez felt his tactics could not be questioned on the day and said he is merely using the players at his disposal.

He said: “There have been so many games where people have accused us of not having possession.

“Well, we had the possession and the shots and corners and free-kicks and everything but we didn’t score.

“That is what we have.

“It is difficult to complain when the team worked so hard.

“We still have to be more precise and clinical when we have chances.

“It is difficult if you just look at the score.”

“But only for the last five minutes they were a threat.

“The rest of the time we were in control and we were creating chances and attempts so we have to be more precise in the final third.

“That is the most difficult thing.”

Benitez said his side had done almost everything but score.

He added: “We did almost everything you have to do to take advantage but we couldn’t do it.”

To compound Benitez’s woes, Brighton’s time wasting from the start contributed to the final outcome of Newcastle’s ninth game of the season.

Benitez, speaking to Match of the Day, said: “We could see they were wasting time from the first minute and when they scored, it got even worse.

“They were stopping the game all the time.

“They used their experience to manage the game and waste time with the goalkeeper.”