Benitez: We cannot think job of staying up is done

PRESSURE STILL ON DESPITE TWO HOME WINS, SAYS BOSS

Chief Newcastle writer RAFA Benitez admits his Newcastle United side is now facing a different type of pressure as it goes into the 10-game Premier League run-in.

The Magpies have eased their relegation fears significantly after winning back-to-back home matches against Huddersfield Town and Burnley.

Benitez’s side still needs two more victories to seal its Premier League place but some pundits are now wondering whether the Magpies can replicate last season and finish in the top half of the table.

As Newcastle start preparing for the West Ham game, Benitez said: “Winning games, you have more confidence and then the pressure is different but still we have to have the same idea - one game at a time, the next game is the most important.

“If we are where we are now, it is because we are focused on that and we have to do exactly the same.

“We cannot think the job is done, no chance. There is no overconfidence. “We have to keep going – we can lose games but we have to approach every game with the same mentality as Burnley.

“The players know it is like that and the fans appreciate that.” Benitez admitted this week this season felt a little bit different to last term after United’s tough start to the campaign.

Back then Newcastle faced Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, Man City and Arsenal in the first few games. When asked if he was surprised to be in such a strong position with 10 games left, the Spaniard said: “To be fair, I was not thinking too much about how many points we could be clear of the relegation zone - it was just carrying on doing what we know we can do well.

“We went to Spain and we were training really hard for some days. “We came back and it was still the same situation.

“You see how they train and you see the things we are trying to do and they are very keen to try to do these things. That is the main thing for me.

“Always I talk about balance – to have a clean sheet, to score two goals and to be solid as a team and be a threat in attack is something Rafa Benitez

We have to keep going - we have to approach every game with the same mentality as Burnley