100% FOOTBALL ACTION, Rafa’s in a Sarri state

TOON INTO BOT TOM 3

NEWCASTLE slipped into the bottom three after Willian and Pedro condemned them to a TWELFTH defeat of the season.

Ciaran Clark had cancelled out Pedro’s seventh-minute opener before Willian struck what proved to be the winner after the break.

Rafa Benitez’s side are now in the relegation zone after Burnley and Southampton won while Cardiff got a point at home to Huddersfield.

The Spaniard (below) said:

“We were fighting for every ball. These players care, you could see that.

“A piece of quality made the difference.

“This is a long-distance race and we only have to be better than three other teams.”

Willian admitted he was relieved to hear the final whistle and says Chelsea have to add a killer touch to secure a top-four finish. They now trail third-placed Spurs by just one point but the Brazil ace said: “It was difficult to kill the match. We have to be more clinical but we have the quality to do it.

“If we kill the match as soon as possible, it is easier to play and find more spaces.” Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri said: “Today was very important to get points.

“We attacked the space better than in the last five or six matches.”