Rafa cool over promotion talk

NEWCASTLE 2 Gayle 36, Ritchie 57 WIGAN ATH 1 Jacobs 50 RAFAEL BENITEZ is refusing to bank on promotion back to the Premier League, even though Newcastle moved 10 points clear of third place.

Michael Jacobs silenced the St James’ Park faithful when he levelled for Wigan four minutes after half-time but Newcastle claimed the points courtesy of goals by Dwight Gayle and Matt Ritchie.

H udders field’ s dramatic stop page-time defeat to struggling Burton, who play Newcastle on Wednesday, means Benitez’s side are bang on course for a return to the Premier League.

However, Ben itez insists he is not thinking about playing in t he top-flight just yet – and suggested his players showed strength by ending a three- match winless run to defeat Wigan.

Benitez said: ‘The main thing was to get three points. We knew it was difficult, watching Wigan against Aston Villa we knew they do well.

‘This mini league we have of eight games is now seven and we have won the first, the other ASTON VILLA 2 Kodjia 25, 87 NORWICH 0 STEVE BRUCE will try ‘everything in his power’ to keep Jonathan Kodjia after the striker scored both goals against Norwich.

‘We have someone playing at the top of his game,’ said Bruce. ‘The first goal was a wonderful piece of finishing.’

Ivo Pinto saw red late on for Norwich. ROTHERHAM 0 FULHAM 1 Aluko 66 INTERIM boss Paul Warne says he is to blame for Rotherham’s relegation.

Sone Aluko bagged the winner for Fulham – Rotherham’s 30th loss of a dismal season. ‘I haven’t been good enough to get the results to keep us up and that is on my head,’ said Warne. teams have made mistakes so we have to concentrate on ourselves.

‘It was a win, I have to be happy. I would like to score five goals and be amazing, but at t he moment we s howed character, good reaction and personality to manage the situation. We BARNSLEY 1 MacDonald 90 SHEFF WED 1 Winnall 50 PAUL Heckingbottom hailed his determined Barnsley team after Angus MacDonald’s dramatic late equaliser.

Barnsley old boy Sam Winnall opened the scoring, but MacDonald hit back.

‘That showed what spirit we have,’ said Heckingbottom. PRESTON 1 McGeady 52 NOTTM FOREST 1 Assombalonga 22 SIMON GRAYSON believes a point against Forest could be crucial in Preston’s fight to win a play-off place.

Britt Assombalonga fired Forest ahead, but Everton loanee Aiden McGeady equalised after the break.

‘Who knows, it could still be a vital point come the end of the season,’ said boss Grayson. can improve on a lot of things, but we do a lot of things well.

‘ When you see Huddersfield losing or Brighton winning 1-0 it shows it is not easy.

‘We need a little more composure on the ball in the final third and then we will score more than we need.

‘We are so close so we have to do well and not suffer. We have to make sure we recover quickly and hopefully do better against Burton.’

Burton’s surprise victory at Huddersfield has also heightened the HUDDERSFIELD 0 BURTON ALB 1 Irvine 90 NIGEL CLOUGH moved to calm dressing-room ‘euphoria’ after Burton’s last-gasp victory.

Burton snatched the points through Jackson Irvine’s winner deep into stoppage time after Dean Whitehead saw red.

Boss Clough said: ‘It’s a big win, but by no means a defining win which means we will stay up.’ IPSWICH 1 Ward 72 BIRMINGHAM 1 Grounds 48 GIANFRANCO ZOLA acknowledged Tomasz Kuszczak made a costly mistake that handed a point to Ipswich.

Grant Ward’s late strike bamboozled the Pole, after Jonathan Grounds’ opener. ‘He could have saved it, but I’m happy with a point,’ said boss Zola. chances of Wigan slipping back into League One.

Wigan are seven points shy of Bristol City, even though they gave Newcastle a scare on Tyneside.

Wigan’s interim boss Graham Barrow said: ‘I’m disappointed with the result. If we can play like that we have got a chance (of staying up).

‘I do think Newcastle are (destined to go up). The teams that are at the top have that little bit of quality. That can unlock the door for them.’ WOLVES 3 Batth 9, 41, Costa 82 CARDIFF 1 Zohore 12 PAUL LAMBERT has predicted a bright future for Wolves.

Goals by Danny Batth (two) and Helda Costa eased fears of the drop, with Kenneth Zohore replying for Cardiff. ‘We are on the road to something here and, if we do that, this place could be great,’ said Lambert. BRENTFORD 2 Canos 18, Vibe 26 BRISTOL CITY 0 DEAN SMITH described his side’s football in a scintillating first half as ‘terrific’ as they stormed to a 2-0 lead over Bristol City through Sergi Canos and Lasse Vibe.

Smith said: ‘Our performance for 70 minutes was very good. We switched the play, played with pace and were very expansive. It was terrific.’