Smash and Grab
Another road win for the Toon as Rondon finishes late counter
RAFA BENITEZ micro-managed Newcastle United in the relentless, teeming West Yorkshire rain, apparently oblivious to the fact he is the subject of a new version of Wham!’s ‘Last Christmas.’
It wasn’t what t he Spaniard anticipated when leaving Real Madrid but he continues to enhance his reputation with powers of alchemy.
These are base metals he is working with. The points, helping his team to 14th spot, cannot disguise that it is a poor Newcastle squad lacking much depth in any department.
The supporters here to witness the win—one bare-chested and wearing felt reindeer antlers in sub- zero cold — have an idea of what Benitez could only do with some money in his hands.
But though the football is not pretty, they have found a way of winning away: holding on for dear life, then snatching points on the breakaway.
Newcastle have lost only to the two Manchester clubs on the road all season.
‘It’s totally different, the way teams play against you at home,’ Benitez reflected last night. ‘We knew they would be on the front foot, pushing.’
That Huddersfield have been left behind in the drop zone is a consequence of their failure to convert first-half chances.
They have scored only 10 Premier League goals al l season: by far the division’s weakest tally.
The floodlights briefly dimmed in the first half and you wondered where Benitez was going to find some power.
There was no incision, no guile, nothing remotely likely to exploit the high Huddersfield line and puncture a side who have now won only one game in 20 here. Where Kenedy — a player formerly known as Newcastle’s creative nexus — has disappeared to is anyone’s guess.
He has a habit of playing with socks around his calves, once the sign of a workhorse, but struggled to find the most elementary pass.
By the time he raced in and drove 10 feet over, soon after the break, he wore a look that suggested he knew his own game was over. Newcastle just speculated.
A lofted 30- yard ball from Ki Sung-yueng found Fabian Schar, whose volley drew a sharp save out of Jonas Lossl before the break.
In every way, that first period belonged to Huddersfield, a team whose powers of creation are enhanced by the excellence of the Danish under -21 international Philip Billing.
The midfielder, displaying the same elegance in possession and languid left- footed distribution he has been showing all season, was a foil to the busy industry of t he pocket dynamo of Alex Pritchard.
There is enough quality in David Wagner’s midfield to make this side competitive if they only had a finisher.
The individual carrying the burden, Lauren Depoitre, volleyed over when Chris Lowe’s early corner reached him. There was no one in the box when Pritchard crossed low and dangerously.
As Huddersfield pushed to break through in the second half Newcastle sprang their trap with a pre-prepared counter-attack of the highest order from deep, involving five players and beginning with goalkeeper Martin Dubravka.
The ball was navigated down the right into the path of Ayoze Perez, who manoeuvred into the path of Javier Manquillo, whose first-time ball reached Salomon Randon. The retreating defence had failed to track the Venezuelan’s run and he tapped home.
‘We had to be very precise,’ said Benitez. ‘Sometimes they listen to you and do well!’
Four goals in a month for Rondon, whom Benitez fought to buy this summer.
It was enough to win the game as Newcastle reverted to a containment game.
Their joyous celebrations with their fans at the end told a story. ‘Last Christmas I gave you my heart,’ goes the new song. ‘ This year, to save me from tears, I’ll give it to Rafa Benitez.’
HUDDERSFIELD TOWN (3-5-1-1): Lossl 6.5; Zanka 6, Schindler 6, Kongolo 5.5 ( Ramadan 60min, 5.5); Hadergjonaj 6.5, Bacuna 6, Hogg 6 (Mbenza 77, 6), Billing 8, Lowe 6 (Durm 60, 6.5); Pritchard 7.5; Depoitre 5.5. Booked: Hogg. Subs ( not used): Hamer, Kachunga, Quaner, Stankovic.
NEWCASTLE (3-4-2-1): Dubraka 6; Lascelles 6, Schar 6.5, Clark 6; Manquilo 6, Ki 6 (Hayden 72, 5.5), Diame 5.5, Kenedy 5 (Dummet 89); Astu 6, Perez 6; Rondon 6 (Ritchie 80). Booked: Lascelles. Subs (not used): Woodman, Dummett, Murphy, Muto, Joselu.
Referee: A Taylor (Cheshire) 7.