RAFA ON WARPATH Top of the table
Sloppy start cost us, admits Newcastle boss
RAFAEL BENITEZ believes it was a case of two points dropped, despite watching his Newcastle side recover from two goals down to salvage a draw against lowly Bristol City.
Ciaran Clark’s 82nd-minute header earned a vital point in the race for promotion after City had gone in at half-time with a shock lead.
Goals from Aaron Wilbraham and David Cotterill gave the visitors the upper hand, but Korey Smith’s own goal handed Newcastle a lifeline — and they could even have won it in the end.
Newcastle face a defining week in their quest for promotion, with trips to Brighton, Huddersfield and Reading up next, but rather than celebrating a point gained after a terrible start, Benitez rued a spate of late missed chances.
‘For me it is two points lost,’ said the Spaniard. ‘We didn’t start well, we made mistakes and gave them hope they could get a result, but the reaction in the second half was very good.
‘I’m pleased with that because that’s what we have to do. With the chances we had we could have scored again and won the game.
‘We have a lot of games to play. My concern is we made some mistakes we can’t afford to make in the future.
‘We showed character in the second half but we have to stay calm. If we play with the high tempo like we did in the second half we will win games. The fans realise that this is not an easy mission and they know they have to support the players.
‘The reaction was great and the fans pushed that.’
Benitez is hopeful top scorer Dwight Gayle will feature in the next three games, despite the fact he Ciaran Clark (centre) scores to make it 2-2 limped off during Monday’s win over Aston Villa.
‘I watched him train this morning so we will see how he feels, but he will have a chance against Brighton,’ he said.
Under-fire City boss Lee Johnson hopes his side can take plenty of positives from the draw.
‘I’m proud of the players because this is a very difficult place to come – a Premier League club-in-waiting,’ said Johnson. ‘We had four academy graduates playing in front of a 52,000 crowd.’