Benitez: Toon Army crucial in bid for four victories

Ian Watson
Rafael Benitez: Newcastle manager

Rafael Benitez: Believes Newcastle need four wins

Rafael Benitez has admitted Newcastle need at least four wins from six matches to escape Premier League relegation.

Newcastle capitulated 3-1 at Southampton on Saturday, for their sixth defeat in a seven-match winless run.

Benitez’s men are six points adrift of safety with six games to play, but Newcastle’s Spanish manager is refusing to throw in the towel.

“I still have the belief that we can win games and if we start winning it can be different,” said Benitez.

“We don’t need to be the best team in the league but we have to be the best team of the bottom four.

Andros Townsend Newcastle

“We aren’t doing that at the moment so I feel we have to start winning the games, and change a lot of things – the commitment, the passion, the character, the way that we play.

“And the fans will be crucial for us, because we need them pushing the players, supporting the players.

“And at the end of the season we’ll have time to analyse what was going on.

“But now it’s the time to stick together and try to do our best because that’s the only way.”