Benitez admits Newcastle were given ‘wake-up call’

Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez labelled the defeat by Fulham a “wake-up call” and conceded they deserved nothing from the game.

Matt Smith’s header on the stroke of half-time proved the difference between the two sides, although the Magpies felt they should have had at least two penalties.

Benitez felt the first – when Ryan Tunnicliffe’s raised hand blocked a cross, at 0-0 – was a definite spot-kick, but preferred to focus on his own side’s performance.

“I am really disappointed because we didn’t play at the level we were expecting,” the ex-Chelsea manager said.

“Apart from the corner [that led to Fulham’s winner], I thought we had some control but we were not keeping the ball in attack, we were not winning the second balls in midfield and we were sometimes too deep.

“We have to improve. This game could be a wake up call for everyone. You could see when we were losing 1-0, there was a bit of anxiety.

“We have to manage the ball much better and play with a clear idea of what we want to do.”

Benitez insisted any problems Newcastle had would not be solved by simply signing more new players, and called on his team to put more in on the training ground.

He said: “More than signings is we have to keep working. We need something – maybe in terms of players, but especially in terms of work.

“We have to realise there is a lot of work that we have to do.”