Benitez on defensive over Perez nightmare

RAFA Benitez has responded to the frosty reaction to Ayoze Perez’s substitution following his nightmare performance against West Ham.

The Spaniard missed a host of sitters in the 3-0 defeat to the Hammers before Benitez decided to replace him.

Perez went off in the 78th minute to a mixture of ironic cheers and some boos but Benitez says the striker is strong enough to take it.

He said: “We have to understand that everybody wants to win, starting with the players.

“I’m sure that the first one disappointed will be Ayo, or anyone who had chances during the game or anyone who made a mistake in defence or anyone who missed a pass.

“We have to understand what is our team, what we have and why we have been successful – because we work really hard, not because we were miles better than the other teams; it’s because we have worked as a team, and Ayo is working really hard for the team.”

Benitez also said Perez getting into the right positions is a positive.

He said: “Obviously he had some chances and the fans were expecting that he had to score or at least be more dangerous.

“But it’s part of the game and part of our problem.

“We create enough chances in a lot of games to score goals and we have to take more if we can.”

West Ham United boss Manuel Pellegrini has claimed his side could have been leaving the North East with an 8-0 win following their success at St James’ Park.

The former Manchester City boss feels his side deserved even more from their 3-0 victory – their first at St James’ since 2012.

Pellegrini said: “We are very satisfied because I think the team played a very good game.

“We scored three good goals and created at least four or five more chances to score.

“And we kept a clean sheet, which is not very normal for us this season, so we’re pleased.

“It was the complete game.”