Al’s well as Benitez praises new boy Miguel
MATCH STATS
There was still time for Rondon to head wide after Sean Longstaff’s excellent cross.
United went in at the break after registering 16 attempts at goal but the second half could not have started better for the home side.
A swift attack after two minutes resulted in Hayden and Perez combining well before teeing up Rondon, who turned and fired powerfully past Lossl to finally beat the Huddersfield stopper to make it 2-0.
With 55 minutes gone, Almiron rolled the ball to Hayden who stroked the ball straight at Lossl. 12
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Ritchie was issued with a yellow card just before the hour mark after a firm challenge on Bacuna.
The Scotland international was replaced by Kenedy midway through the second half.
With 18 minutes to go, a cross from Hayden found Kenedy at the back post but his powerful volley was somehow tipped on to the bar by Lossl.
It was a stunning piece of a technique by Kenedy and TV replays showed what a vital save Lossl RAFA Benitez has reflected on Miguel Almiron’s stunning home debut at St James’ Park.
On a day which resulted in a standing ovation and the crowd chanting his name throughout the 2-0 win agaist the Terriers, Almiron has made an instant hit.
Speaking after the game Benitez said: “He did well.
“He is a different kind of player with different characteristics.
“He is giving us another option so if you have to change something you can make the difference with one player or another player, so it has been positive.
“It was a pity for him because he could have scored and it would have been even better.”
When asked if the plan was always to start Almiron, Benitez added: “Yes.
“Yesterday when you were asking me, I knew he was playing. I wanted to make a headline!”
Reflecting on the performance overall, he said: “Yes, I am really pleased with the performance and the three points.
“We needed to win – after the games yesterday, it was even more important to do our job and we did it.
“You have to give credit to the players because in the first half we were pushing.
“We started on the front foot in the second half, so everything we had to do we did it and that is it.
“The sending-off also was a big problem for them but before that they were passing the ball well and we had two very clear chances.“
“It was a pity afterwards, for me, a good performance to go just with two goals after 29 attempts and hitting the woodwork four times.
“It was a pity.”