Newcastle United’s seemingly relentless charge to the Premier League continued on Sunday, but Rafael Benitez insists he is taking nothing for granted.
A Dwight Gayle double gave the Magpies a 2-0 win at Leeds United, their ninth successive victory in all competitions. Relegated from the top-flight last season, their return to the elite would seem almost a formality even at this early stage, as they storm five points clear of second-placed Brighton & Hove Albion at the head of the table.
But the Championship has often proven to be unpredictable over the years, and although this is the first time Benitez has experienced life in English football’s second-tier, he is shrewd enough not to take promotion for granted. Instead, the Spaniard will demand that his players continue to show the right mentality right until the end of the campaign.
“The performance of the team defending and attacking was brilliant, and has been for the whole season,” he told Sky Sports. “We have to keep doing the same things, playing with intensity, no complacency and try to get more points in every game. We know anything can happen, so we have to approach every game with the same mentality.”
