Newcastle United have found their mojo and how. The Magpies were expected to challenge for a Top 2 spot from come the end of the season, especially with the club being able to retain the services of Rafa Benitez. They went headlong into the transfer window and secured Rafa’s transfer choices quite efficiently. Armed with a strong British core of players, who would realise the value and ethos of the Championship, he began his journey of gaining immediate promotion of Newcastle United into the top flight. But they stuttered at the very beginning leaving pundits bringing out their resigned and knowing looks but the calls very obviously taken too early as the Magpies have tremendously hit back since then. After two back to back losses at the start, they are currently on a 5-match unbeaten run and the odds are in their favour to make it 6 when they host Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday.
Going back to the glorious midweek match against QPR, it was a sort of treatment QPR have come to be used to, but from the big wigs of the Premier League. But such a manner and margin of victory emphasises the team Rafa has managed to put through and with the Spanish manager still looking to make the unit better, Newcastle are slowly turning into the team to beat in the competition.
Jonjo Shelvey scored twice on the day and he began the scoring after a period of early dominance which by Newcastle. Ayoze Perez added a second shortly with a deflected strike which set the tone for a long afternoon for the Hoops. And Shelvey had not yet shown his best as he unleashed a 25-yard screamer to make the scoreline 3-0. Ciaran Clark headed a fourth and close-range efforts by Aleksandar Mitrovic and Grant Hanley ensured QPR’s record home league defeat. The hosts, who have still not managed a goal from open play this season, saw Steven Caulker head their best chance over the bar.
Rafa Benitez was understandably keeping his feet on the ground and urged his players to keep churning out the wins and keep putting in good performances. He did not stress on the scoreline, highlighting the 3 points which came along with it. He said,
“We can still improve. The team was playing well, everybody was pushing and working hard, but you always make some mistakes.
“The main thing for us was to get the three points so we could leave our fans happy. We also managed to get the clean sheet.
“We now have to show we can concentrate in every game. It doesn’t matter if we score six goals, we get three points in the end. Now have to concentrate on the next game and not lose that concentration.”
They now shift their focus onto the match against Wolves who are currently 16th place. And Rafa has to make sure his lads are not complacent on any level. With such a dominant display, it is unlikely he will be making any changes.
The Predicted Newcastle Line-Up is (4-4-1-1)
