Rafa Always Gets The Better Of Hughes!

Last updated : 03 January 2018 By Footy Mad - Editor

Image result for stoke city 0 newcastle united 1Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez: "We started the game very well and defended well and in the end I think we deserve the win.

"For us it's good, for them it's bad, but for both teams you can see the players are working very hard.

"We know we are looking for something that can improve the team in different areas. The players are trying everything and I am pleased with them but if we can improve our squad we will try to."

Benitez gets the better of Hughes, again - the stats
◾Newcastle have won back-to-back away Premier League matches for the first time since November 2014.
◾Rafael Benitez has lost just one of his 13 managerial matches against Mark Hughes in the Premier League (W6 D6 L1).
◾Newcastle have beaten Stoke home and away for the second time in the Premier League, having previously achieved this back in 2011-12.
◾Today's result was Stoke's first home league defeat on New Year's Day since 1988.
◾The Potters have failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their past 10 Premier League home games - their longest such run in the competition.
◾Stoke have now conceded the first goal of the game on 15 occasions in the Premier League this season; more often than any other team.
◾Ayoze Perez's strike was Newcastle's first goal at the bet365 stadium since November 2012 (first goal in four visits).
◾Stoke's total of 20 points after 22 games is their worst haul at this stage of a top-flight campaign since 1984-85 (11 points).