Why Rafa Benitez will NOT set a points target for Newcastle

Newcastle United have been tipped to beat Reading’s record 106-point haul from the 2005-06 season.

But Benitez is not calculating how many points he feels his promotion-chasing side will need this season.

“I am not thinking about that,” said Benitez. “I am thinking about the next game, and that’s it.

“Also, you don’t know how many points you will need.

“You could say that 80 will be enough, but it depends on the other teams.

“If we lose three games, then still with 75 you can be there.

“If we keep winning every game even then, because Brighton and Norwich could keep winning every game, so maybe you will need 100 points.

“Because you cannot control it, and because you are talking about the end of the season, the only way is to have a target now for this game, and that’s it.”

Newcastle won the league with 102 points in the 2009-10 season.

However, Cardiff City, this afternoon’s opponents at St James’s Park, achieved the same feat with 87 points in the 2012-13 campaign.

Meanwhile, Benitez feels Cardiff manager Neil Warnock will have his team well-prepared for their visit to Tyneside.

“He’s a manager with great experience in the Championship, so I know that it will not be an easy game,” said Benitez.

“They have nothing to lose now so they will come here with no fear. It will be a tough game for us.”