Benitez uses his notes as rookie boss in Spain in bid to get that first win, as Perez turns the jeers to cheers

RAFA BENITEZ has left no page unturned in his bid to revive Newcastle’s fortunes. and Fabian Schar had made little impact since arriving in the summer. Yet the unlikely trio transformed a match Watford had bossed with embarrassing ease.

Schar slotted in impressively, looking a more natural fit alongside Federico Fernandez than Lascelles, while Ki pulled the midfield strings in a way Shelvey had failed to do.

And Perez turned the jeers to cheers, diverting Ki’s free-kick past Ben Foster for the Toon’s first goal in over five hours.

Victory was hardly deserved against opponents who created – and missed – countless chances.

But it could prove a turning point for the team and certain individuals. Ki had spent recent weeks wondering if Benitez rated him. “It was my first game for a while and I am just so pleased I could help the team at a really important time,” said the signing from Swansea.

“Obviously it was the manager’s decision that I haven’t played much. Maybe there were things he didn’t like about my game so I had to be patient and work really hard to get my chance.

“I’m not saying he did not like me and I was never worried I had made the wrong move, but clearly he wasn’t satisfied with what I was showing early on.

“But this is my seventh season in the Premier League and I still have faith in my own qualities.

“Yes, it was a difficult time, but I always knew that given the chance, I could play in front of these fans. Now he can see how I can help the team. He must like me now!”

Benitez will go back to his books, confident the methods that have served him well for two decades can guide Newcastle to safety.

“I’ve been using all my experience to think about what we could do to change things,” he said. “I was reading all my notes from the past, looking for things to do.

“You have to analyse everything and look at what you did. I am quite old now so I have lots of notes about everything I’ve done.

“We always knew we needed a win and if we continue winning, maybe this will be one of my biggest results.”