Newcastle continued to show some late determination to avoid relegation from the top tier, drawing 1-1 with Manchester City on Tuesday (Wednesday NZ time) after Sergio Aguero became the second-fastest player to score 100 English Premier League goals.
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Benitez will target the games against Aston Villa and Crystal Palace to get the three points and his side will do very well to get anything out of their other two games, away to Liverpool and a visit form title aspirants Tottenham on the final day of the season.
The Magpies recovered their poise following a contentious opener from City’s prolific marksman Sergio Aguero – his 100th Premier League goal – to earn a hard-fought point courtesy of Vurnon Anita’s leveller. “Hopefully, we have the momentum and we have to keep believing”. Let us know in the comments section below.
“We are just trying to add points”.
They came on the cusp of one today but in the end, it was only a tantalizing glimpse of what might have been if Rafael Benitez had taken over the reigns at St. James’s Park weeks sooner.
“I have to be pleased because against a team like Man City, to do what we have done from 1-0 down, the reaction of the team, you have to be pleased”, said the Spaniard.
“The team has more belief now”.
“The team was working hard but now we have more belief”, said Benitez.
With Vincent Kompany back at the heart of the City defense, the victory Benitez so desperately needed looked a tall order, although Kompany often looked exhausted.
Newcastle nearly went ahead through Aleksandar Mitrovic after good work from Andros Townsend from the right but Pablo Zabaleta headed the cross for a corner.
The officials missed Aguero returning from an offside position as the set-piece was taken and the Argentinian rose to send a glancing near-post header beyond Darlow from six yards out.
“When you play against a team like Manchester City, they are so good, and I knew about the bad record against them, that maybe everybody was expecting something worse, but after conceding a goal that everybody says was offside – I haven’t seen the replay – the reaction was so good”.
Newcastle legend Alan Shearer said on BBC Radio that the support of the Magpies faithful was proof that Benitez is starting to turn the team around. It is very important now to make some rotation as we play at the weekend and then Real Madrid next Tuesday. “I am happy for him”.
City could have made it two on 23 minutes, but Kevin de Bruyne failed to punish Jamaal Lascelles’ error and lashed a wild effort wide.
Moussa Sissoko intercepted Kolarov’s misplaced pass before running the length of the field to the City area, but he couldn’t find the finish as Joe Hart was forced into a routine save.
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Newcastle equalized through Vernon Anita’s left-footed curling shot in the 31st minute which saw the game tied at 1-1.
