'Unhappy' Rafa Benitez bemoans error-ridden Newcastle performance

A first-half goal from Matt Phillips condemned Benitez's side to a 1-0 loss at St James's Park this afternoon.

Newcastle, 10th in the Premier League and safe from relegation, struggled to create chances against the Premier League's basement club, who deservedly took all three points.

And substitute Islam Slimani could be punished retrospectively for kicking out at Craig Dawson.

United manager Benitez said: "I was not happy after Everton, and I'm unhappier now.

“When you are safe, you still don’t want to see performances like that. It’s hard to understand.

“It’s important to stay up. Nobody was expecting we could finish ninth or tenth. It's important we are giving everything.

“We had two or three chances that could be different, and we would be talking about other game. That's football. You have to take your chances.

“The players were a bit relaxed. You don’t want to see that. We made too many mistakes and made the wrong decision too many times. That’s why we lost the game.

“We didn't play well. They worked hard and needed to win. Everything was wrong from the first minute.

“We have the ball away every single time in easy positions.”