Bless you, Atsu! Rafa hails winger

ROTHERHAM 0 NEWCASTLE 1 Atsu 41

RAFA BENITEZ hailed Christian Atsu’s brilliant goal, as Newcastle grafted to see off Rotherham and make it back-to-back victories.

The on-loan Chelsea winger cut in from the right and curled an unstoppable effort into the top corner from the edge of the area.

Newcastle go into the international break three points behind Huddersfield, and Benitez praised his side’s workmanlike display.

He said: ‘It was a great, great goal. We won against a good team. I said before that they don’t deserve to be where they are. They were pushing and pushing us, and with that kind of play they will win games and be higher in the table.’

Newcastle only created a handful of chances, and one goal proved to be enough, with Benitez adding: ‘I enjoy winning, it doesn’t matter how. To get three points is what you have to do.

‘We can try to play nice football but sometimes it is not enough. The gameplan was to work hard and do our best in terms of physicality and tempo and then after use your quality. That is what we did. It is important to win before and after the internationals. Normally when you go away for a week or 10 days, if you lose it’s always worse.

‘To win against Norwich and then win against Rotherham is massive and important for confidence.’

Rotherham manager Alan Stubbs felt midfielder Lee Frecklington was fouled in the build-up to the goal, and said: ‘There is no doubt about it. If you look at the replay, it’s pretty obvious, there are two hands on Frecks, which makes him go to the floor.

‘We have taken the game to Newcastle and, if I am being honest, I think it has been a pretty uncomfortable 90 minutes for them here.’