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Rafa Benitez tries to bury major concerns behind ‘one mistake’ costing Newcastle

7 years ago
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Rafa Benitez was desperate to defend his team after Huddersfield 1 Newcastle 0.

The United boss suggesting it was ‘one mistake’ that decided the game.

Whilst there was only one goal and it was Mikel Merino who was at fault (a mistake…) for it, that is simply deflecting what was a really really poor performance against the team that started the season as odds on favourites for relegation.

Newcastle were hardly in the game and in three hours of football now, only Matt Ritchie’s right foot effort has made the keeper made a save, though to be fair it was an outstanding fingertip one from Lossl today.

Rafa Benitez claims that the ‘Reaction from the team was good to going behind’ but this is papering over the cracks.

Yes, Newcastle showed plenty of effort but the vast majority of the game was painful if you were expecting/hoping to see Newcastle creating any chances.

West Ham at home looms next Saturday, a match surely that Newcastle can’t afford to lose.

Rafa Benitez:

“You cannot make too many mistakes in the Premier League.

“We made one mistake, gave Mooy too much time on the ball and we conceded.

“You have to take your chances.

“We tried to create more chances after the Matt Ritchie effort. The reaction from the team was good to going behind.

“We are at the beginning and we have to keep going. The only way to improve is to train harder.

“I could say we deserved to get something but my experience in the Premier League is that you have to take your chances because if you make mistakes, you will pay for them.

“It is a learning process for us and hopefully we can learn quickly. That is how it is at the moment.

“Maybe (concerns about transfers are ringing true)… it is a learning process and we have to learn quickly.

“Maybe it is too soon for us – it will take some time for sure.

 “We have three injuries and it is not easy to manage when you have three injuries in defence.”

Stats from BBC Sport:

Huddersfield 1 Newcastle 0

Goals:

Huddersfield: Aaron Mooy 50

Possession was Huddersfield 53% Newcastle 47%

Total shots were  Huddersfield 7 Newcastle 13

Shots on target were Huddersfield  3 Newcastle 5

Corners were  Huddersfield 7 Newcastle 3

Newcastle United:

Elliot, Manquillo, Clark, Lascelles, Mbemba, Ritchie, Hayden (Diame 76), Merino, Atsu, Perez (Murphy 80), Gayle (Joselu 52)

Unused Subs:

Darlow, Aarons, Saivet, Mitrovic

Crowd: 24,128

Referee: Craig Pawson

(Graeme Souness slaughtered one Newcastle player for the defeat, read here)

(To view and to add your marks to our Newcastle v Huddersfield interactive ratings go here)

(Instant NUFC fan/writer reaction to the match, read it here)

(Read Alan Shearer’s reaction after the final whistle here)

(All contributions from Newcastle fans welcome, send articles (as well as ideas/suggestions) to contribute@themag.co.uk)

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