Newcastle 1-0 Derby
by Roger Domeneghetti
at St James’ Park

NEWCASTLE returned to the summit of the Championship on Saturday thanks to Matt Ritchie’s deflected first-half goal.

It meant Rafa Benitez had something to smile about at the end of a difficult week in which he had made it clear he was not happy at being unable to sign anyone in the January transfer window.

However, it could all have been very different as Tom Ince missed a sitter for the visitors before Darren Bent had a header cleared off the line just before the final whistle.

“It is a pity we had to suffer a little bit,” said a relieved Benitez, “because we had chances to settle the game in the first and the beginning of the second half.”

“Today the positive thing was the communication between the fans and the players.

“The supporters realised they could make the difference and the players responded by creating a lot of chances.

“The fans know the players will run a little bit more if they have this support. Hopefully we can keep this atmosphere until the end of the season.”

That support for the home players and their manager meant former Toon boss Steve McClaren, who was in the away dugout for the first time since his sacking nearly 11 months ago, did not receive any of the brickbats he might have expected.

However, he was disappointed not to have got at least a point.

“We stood off Newcastle in the first half but we had a right go in the second, we got them very nervous and we deserved a draw.”

But the Derby boss refused to be drawn on the politics at his former club.

“I’ll have a glass of wine and a good conversation with Rafa,” he said. “But it’ll be a very private — and very interesting — conversation.”