Newcastle United 5 Tottenham Hotspur 1: Benitez oversees stunning win as fans call for him to stay

Newcastle United fans pleaded with Rafa Benitez to stay as the relegated club wrapped up a troubled season with a stunning win.
Aleksandar MitrovicAleksandar Mitrovic
Aleksandar Mitrovic

Benitez's side – who ended the Premier League campaign in 18th place – beat Tottenham Hotspur 5-1 at St James's Park.

Georginio Wijnaldum netted twice, while Aleksandar Mitrovic, Rolando Aarons and Daryl Janmaat also found the net.

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The last three goals from Newcastle when they were down to 10 men.

Mitrovic was sent off in the second half for a lunge on Kyle Walker, and will be suspended for the start of next season.

The game also saw a debut for 20-year-old defender Jamie Sterry, who replaced Moussa Sissoko late in the game.

Wijnaldum, without a goal since mid-January, put United ahead in the 19th minute with a neat finish after Mitrovic laid the ball off to him.

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And Mitrovc headed a Sissoko cross past Hugo Lloris to give Newcastle a 2-0 lead at the break.

Erik Lamela beat Karl Darlow in the 60th minute to pulled one back for Tottenham, but the dismissal of Mitrovic seven minutes later didn't turn the game on its head.

Sissoko won a penalty which was converted by Wijnaldum.

And substitute Aarons netted in the 85th minute. Janmaat, making his first appearance since early last month, added a fifth strike for Newcastle a minute later.

The result meant Arsenal finished runners-up to title-winners Leicester City ahead of Tottenham.

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Benitez and his players gathered in the centre circle at the final whistle to applaud the club's fans, who chanted the name of Newcastle's manager in the hope of persuading him to stay on in the Championship.

NEWCASTLE UNITED: Darlow; Janmaat, Taylor, Mbemba, Dummett; Colback, Tiote (Shelvey, 62); Townsend, Sissoko (Sterry, 84), Wijnaldum (Aarons, 76); Mitrovic. Subs not used: Woodman, de Jong, Perez, Cisse.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR: Lloris; Walker (Chadli, 71), Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Davies; Dier, Mason; Lamela, Eriksen, Son; Kane. Subs not used: Vorm, Rose, Wimmer, Carroll, Onomah, Clinton.

Goals: Wijnaldum 19, 73 (pen), Mitrovic 39, Lamela 60, Aarons 85, Janmaat 86

Sent off: Mitrovic 67

Referee: Anthony Taylor (Wythenshawe)

Attendance: 52,183