Benitez furious as Newcastle are denied ‘obvious’ penalty
Amid all the talk of takeovers at Newcastle and the hint of a brighter future that it brings, there is a vulnerable team fighting to avoid relegation and a manager feeling the strain of trying to prevent it.
Rafael Benitez is rarely angry after a defeat but this one stung, partly because it was self-inflicted, mainly because he felt a sense of injustice, a bitterness that soured things to such an extent that he could not accept it as he might normally, with a nod and a handshake.
That can happen when you concede a late winner, Matt Doherty scoring for Wolverhampton Wanderers deep into stoppage time.
But Benitez’s fury was directed elsewhere. He repeatedly claimed Newcastle should have had a penalty, with the scores level in the second half, when Willy Boly elbowed Ayoze Perez in the face. He also argued Deandre Yedlin should not have been sent off for tugging back Jota, after the full-back’s poor touch had sent the striker in on goal.
Wolves will argue he is a sore loser, that they deserved their second win of the week, but this was a rant that betrayed the stress Benitez is under.
“When you care and you are