Sky Sports ‘Only thing that really matters to Newcastle fans is when Benitez signs on dotted line’
Sky Sports have looked at the performances of Premier League clubs in this latest weekend of games.
The broadcaster giving a grade for each team’s display and a write-up on the performance.
Giving them a ‘B+’ for the performance/win, Sky Sports state: ‘Newcastle have been let off the leash by Rafael Benitez in recent weeks, and it shows.’
They add that the Magpies gave the visitors a lesson in finishing, as Ayoze Perez scored only Newcastle’s second Premier League hat-trick since 2011.
The ‘defensive grit’ of Rafa’s team was also acknowledged, epitomised by the performance of Paul Dummett, making some great blocks and tackles.
With safety now assured, you can’t disagree with the final Sky Sports assessment that: ‘… the only thing that really matters to Newcastle fans is when Benitez signs on the dotted line.’
Sky Sports Verdict – Newcastle United (B+):
“Newcastle have been let off the leash by Rafael Benitez in recent weeks, and it shows.
“Giving Ayoze Perez and Miguel Almiron free roles wide of Salomon Rondon left the Southampton defence in a spin, and 3-1 barely flattered Benitez’s re-energised side.
“Perez was at his best with a fine hat-trick but Newcastle showed defensive grit to halt Southampton’s comeback when the visitors pulled the scoreline back to 2-1, with Paul Dummett’s recent return from injury a clear bonus.
“Losing Almiron to injury late-on could be a blow for the rest of the season, but with safety mathematically assured with three games to go, the only thing that really matters to Newcastle fans is when Benitez signs on the dotted line.”
It was Southampton (D), Sky Sports describe their victory:
“Southampton were given a lesson in finishing by Newcastle on Saturday, failing to register a single shot on target before the break despite having plenty of play in the final third, and Ralph Hasenhuttl’s double switch at the break didn’t surprise too many people.
“There were signs of life after Mario Lemina’s comeback goal but when Maya Yoshida is your best chance of a point, you know you’ve not been great. His awful miss at 2-1 aside, Southampton were generally woeful, at odds with their recent form, but they should still easily have enough to stay up.”
Sky Sports grades on Premier League performances this past weekend (Compiled before Chelsea 2 Burnley on Monday night):
(A+) Everton
(A) Crystal Palace,
(A-) Liverpool
(B+) Newcastle United
(B) Watford, Cardiff, Brighton, Fulham, Tottenham
(B-) Leicester, West Ham, Man City
(C) Wolves
(D) Southampton, Huddersfield, Arsenal
(E) Bournemouth
(F) Man Utd
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