Ticking on Prem status

said: “I didn’t see what happened, but that’s the referee’s job, not mine.

“About a minute afterwards, my assistant was told that it was handball and should have been a red card for Diame.

“Maybe we should have replays. I think referees in England are very good but it was a mistake – and it seems to me that mistakes like this happen more often to the teams that are in our position.”

But Carvalhal has had an influence since taking over at Swansea. The bottom-of-the-table club had the scent of a second successive away win in their nostrils when they took the lead on the hour. Ayew’s movement took him between Ciaran Clark and Jamal Lascelles as Van der Hoorn shaped to cross from the right.

Although the Ghanian’s first header was brilliantly saved by Karl Darlow, he reacted first to score.

Benitez sent on Joselu, and within four minutes Newcastle were level.

Perez had a shot blocked by Bartley, but Joselu brought the loose ball under control before turning to fire through the legs of Alfie Mawson and into the far corner.

Jonjo Shelvey, the architect of the equaliser, petulantly refused to shake Benitez’s outstretched hand when he was subbed eight minutes from time.

“I have no problem with him,” said Benitez. “Any one would be disappointed not to play when we are trying to win the game.”

But Benitez would have certainly had a problem if Deandre Yedlin had not prevented Swansea substitute Wilfried Bony from winning the game in added time by blocking his shot on the line.

“When I came here two weeks ago we were given zero per cent chance to stay up,” said Carvalhal. “Perhaps now they will think we have at least a small chance.”