CHILD’S PLAY FOR BENITEZ
His Toon kids are alright
PREMIER LEAGUE football is just child’s play for resurgent Newcastle right now.
It may be premature to label them Benitez’s Babes but these Toon kids really are alright.
The Premier League’s least experienced side – with an average age of under 25 – have won three successive top-flight games before the end of September for the first time since 2001.
And according to the league’s youngest skipper Jamaal Lascelles, who found the net for the second time in six days, scoring goals at this level is easier than in the Championship.
Confidence
Rafa Benitez may have failed to recruit the players he wanted during the transfer window but he has fashioned an outfit brimming with enthusiasm, confidence and commitment.
Crucially, the Magpies had the character to hit back through Lascelles after Xherdan Shaqiri had cancelled out Christian Atsu’s opener with his latest spectacular effort.
“We’ve got such a young team, I think it gives us a big advantage in terms of our energy,” said Lascelles, whose leadership qualities belie his 23 years.
“It really counts when we play against teams a little bit older. Our average age is only about 25 – it’s only Matt Ritchie who spoils it!
“We can really get about the pitch and get down people’s boots – in the end our inexperience is a strength.”
As for his own scoring prowess, the Toon’s Captain Sensible has a theory.
“It’s a little bit different because in the Championship, it’s more of a wrestling match in the box,” he added.
“Players will get hold of you and they’re big, strong boys who defend set-pieces well. In the Premier League, no disrespect to teams, when they mark zonal, you get a running jump.”
The centre-half ’s winner was a near carbon copy of his Swansea goal, with both owing much to Ritchie’s expertise at corners. The Scotland international is playing out of his skin right now and Atsu’s effort was the result of his vision and delivery.
Under Benitez Newcastle are no longer soft touches in adversity and, while Stoke fancied their chances of taking the points once Shaqiri struck, Lascelles and his team-mates had other ideas.
“We’ve got big characters and a good mentality,” he said. “Two seasons ago, it would have been a different story after they equalised.
Tough
“Heads would drop and we’d be looking around each other asking, ‘Who is going to step up?’ – but it’s not like that now.”
Stoke boss Mark Hughes insists he is satisfied with his side’s start to the campaign after a tough set of fixtures.
But defender Erik Pieters revealed the visitors were beating themselves up after losing to a set-piece.
“It’s frustrating,” he said. “Set-pieces are such a big part of football. We have to be honest with ourselves. We didn’t defend the corner properly and gave him a free header for the goal.”