Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez loves a clean sheet and despite praising striker Dwight Gayle for his two crucial goals at Oakwell, the Spaniard highlighted the team’s defensive display to keep Barnsley at bay.
The Magpies had to endure a battle in the first half against the Tykes but Benitez told the Chronicle he was delighted with how the team defended as a unit to shut out the opposition:
“It’s always important to win but if you don’t concede it is also important for the team. Especially for the confidence of the defenders and the keeper. The strikers and the wingers worked hard which meant the defenders could do a great job.”
That is now five consecutive clean sheets away from home, a far cry from last season when the Magpies could not stop conceding goals, and dropping points away from St James’ Park.
Certainly the quality of opponents has been lower, but there has also been a sea change in the team’s resiliency which is in stark contrast to the Magpie’s brittleness away from home in past Premier League seasons. Defensive organisation from Rafa’s part plays a role but an increase in steely determination from the players has definitely contributed to an almost flawless away record so far this campaign.
