Rafa Benitez registered his first win as Newcastle United manager after the Magpies recorded a 3-0 win over Swansea. Newcastle managed a clean sheet win for the first time February, when they had beaten West Brom 1-0.
The result could not have come at a better time for Newcastle United who looked doomed after their last weekend’s 3-1 defeat against Southampton. Given Sunderland’s 3-0 win earlier in the day, this was a must-win game for Rafa and his team came up with the desired result.
However, there is a feeling around the Premier League that this win could have come a bit too late for Newcastle and Rafa Benitez. Since taking over at the club, Benitez has only managed a win and a draw from the 5 games in charge.
Rafa could not get the results when it mattered the most. Draw against Sunderland and the damning 3-2 defeat to Norwich has made it very difficult for Newcastle to climb out of the bottom three. However, result against Swansea has brought back some belief to fans and the players.
Win against Swansea sees The Geordies at 19th place trailing Sunderland by 2 points and a further 3 points away from Norwich. It has now come to a conclusion that these three teams will have to fight it out for the relegation. Crystal Palace are all but safe and it will be two teams between Sunderland, Norwich and Newcastle who will go down this season.
Newcastle United have indeed got the squad and the players capable of winning football matches. With Aleksander Mitrovic, they have a potent goal-scorer while Andres Townsend and Georginio Wijnaldum are more than able midfield players who can create and score goals.
However, defense seems to be main worry for Benitez and that is why the clean sheet win against Swansea must have pleased new manager the most. Newcastle have 5 games left in their season with 3 of those coming against Manchester City, Liverpool and Tottenham.
Odds are certainly stacked against them, however, 3 of those remaining 5 games will be played at St. James’ Park. We saw what can happen if the players get their fans supporting them at the top of their voice.
Same support will be expected in coming weeks as Newcastle have started to push for their great escape. It may have come a bit too late in the season, but we have seen some crazy results from teams in the past when they really need a win to keep their Premier League status alive.
Image Credit: Getty
