Siege mentality has Rafa smiling at last
TO the backdrop of unrest and discord, finally there was joy and togetherness. This is what Newcastle United and Rafa Benitez can achieve when everyone is pulling in the same direction.
It is a shame that owner Mike Ashley — the cause of Benitez’s unhappiness over what he believes are broken promises on investment — was not here to see it.
Or perhaps it is better that he wasn’t, for such was the quality of the performance that he may well have locked away his cheque book until January at least.
But just 24 hours on from the manager calling into question his long-term commitment, his players produced a short-term reminder of why he agreed to manage this football club in the first place.
‘The fans, the city, the stature of the club, you can enjoy it when everything is right and today everything was right,’ Benitez said.
It helped that, for West Ham, everything was wrong. But still Newcastle had to capitalise on the shortcomings of their insipid opponents.
Huddersfield were far from great last weekend and Newcastle lost, but everything they were not on that occasion — energetic, aggressive and inventive — they were here.
Joselu scored on his full home de but following his £5 million arrival from Stoke and left to a standing ovation. In an age of such a reception being afforded to a player who has simply run about, this was different, it was deserved.
The Spaniard added craft to his graft and was outstanding.
The same could be said of his compatriot Mik el Merino, the midfielder who was also starting for the first time at St James’ Park but defied that and his mere 21 years to boss the contest.
Man of the match, however, was defender Ciaran Clark, who cleared off the goalline at 1-0 up before heading the game-clinching second.
And then there was a goal for crowd favourite Aleksand ar Mitrovic, on as a substitute for Joselu — Benitez certainly wasn’t lying when he said that ‘everything’ was right for his side. The tone was set by a home crowd who feared their manager’s days could be numbered amid the ongoing civil war with Ashley. I ndeed, t hi s r esult could well heighten West Ha m ’s long-standing interest. But from the off the Toon Army let it be known they were in his corner and that served to inspire those on the field. Benitez said: ‘ The team was working very hard and the fans appreciated that, they were right behind the players. They can be the difference for us.’ But after all of the elation came a warning — Benitez still wants more before the transfer window closes on Thursday. ‘Yes, we have to (sign more players),’ he added.
‘Nothing changed in the first two games and nothing has changed now. We have a clear idea of what we want to do and we will try to do it.’
Benitez won’t like to hear this, but there did not look to be too many weaknesses in his side here.
They took a deserved lead on 36 minutes when West Ham’s Declan Rice, the 18-year-old midfielder, was caught i n possession and Merino sought to spring Christian Atsu clear.
The winger could have shot but clipped into the path of Joselu and he was left with a tap-in from six yards.
Merino then smashed down the throat of Joe Hart, who snaffled at the second attempt, and Atsu skidded a low drive across the face of goal. It was by some distance the best half of football the Magpies had produced this season.
In fact, it was unrecognisable from their three defeats prior to this.
But while the visitors had Javier Herandez on the pitch — and they were l ucky t hey did after he escaped a second yellow for a late challenge on Clark — they always had a chance of nicking a leveller.
On 53 minutes they thought they had it when Rob Elliot was unable to gather Aaron Cresswell’s low shot and Hernandez followed up.
The keeper redeemed himself by getting a hand on the Mexican’s effort but still the ball squirmed towards goal and it took a last-ditch swipe from Clark to prevent the concession. It was a let- off for Newcastle and t hey t ook full advantage when Matt Ritchie dropped a right-wing cross on the brow of Clark who flashed into the bottom corner from eight yards.
The scoring was complete four minutes from time when Mitrovic skipped around Hart and slotted home having been slid in on goal by Ayoze Perez.
Mitrovic did a dance, St James’ was bounding and, for the first time this summer, Benitez was smiling.
Crisis? What crisis?