Rafa Benitez reveals the positives he took from Newcastle's 1-1 draw against Palace

Benitez’s side was held to a 1-1 draw by Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park yesterday.

And the result saw the club move a point clear of the Premier League’s relegation zone ahead of Sunday’s home game against Manchester United.

A second-half penalty from Luka Milivojevic cancelled out Mohamed Diame’s 22nd-minute strike.

Newcastle had had the better of the first half, but Roy Hodgson’s team went on to dominate the game after Milivojevic scored from the spot.

United manager Benitez said: “We got an extra point, so we cannot say it’s negative.

“We have to stay calm and be sure that we do what we have to do in order to fight and have more chances to win games.

“We’re learning. It’s a learning process, but still we’re playing against good players. (Wilfried) Zaha can dribble, you know he can, but still he can do it even if you know.

“Then we’re trying to manage and do things. But the togetherness of the team’s important.”

Benitez didn’t believe Ciaran Clark’s pull on Christian Benteke’s shirt should have been penalised with a penalty.

“You see it a lot,” said Benitez. “It’s difficult to say it wasn’t (a pull) – I cannot say it wasn’t – but also he was pushing my player. The other side will say clear penalty, I will say not.”

Wilfried Zaha created problems for United with his pace and movement.

“In the first half he was playing as a striker,” said Benitez. “In the second half he went on the wing. (DeAndre) Yedlin at full-back could deal with the balls in behind, but when Zaha got the ball in to feet he did well.

“Defensively the players did well.”

Newcastle, without new signing Islam Slimani, couldn’t add to their advantage before the break. And, overall, Benitez felt it was a “fair” result.

“In the first half, we were in control and doing well,” said Benitez. “We had another chance to score the second goal.

“In the second half, the counter-attack made a big difference. If you don’t score the second goal, then you’re under pressure and you have to defend.

“I was happy with how we were defending against very good strikers. It could be better, but it could be worse.

“It’s one point in the end, and, more or less, that’s fair.”

On positive for Benitez was the way his team defended in the latter stages when Palace laid seige to Karl Darlow’s goal.

Benitez’s players made a series of blocks and tackles in and around their box.

“It was very clear from the beginning that we were working really hard, particularly towards the end when we were blocking and running,” said Benitez, who has given his players a couple of days off.

“That’s the only way for us and the others towards the bottom of the table.”

Newcastle, back in London for the second successive weekend, sold out their ticket allocation at Selhurst Park.

“The fans are fantastic,” added Benitez. “When you go away, always you can feel them. We would like to win every game and send them home happy.

“We have more people at home, and if we stick together, we will be stronger.”

Meanwhile, Palace manager Hodgson thought that his team had deserved all three points for their second-half performance.

“The way we were playing in the first half, I would certainly have taken (a point),” said Hodgson.

“After watching the second half, and watching us dominate the game as we did, I feel we were unlucky not to have got all three points in the end, because our second-half performance merited that.

“It’s a point that doesn’t help either of us enormously, but we’ve just got to make sure that when we can’t win, we draw.”

Palace are two points ahead of Newcastle in 14th place.