Rafa Benitez feels that the fighting spirit his Newcastle United team showed against Norwich City was exactly the type of response fans want to see.
Benitez reckons that Newcastle fans should also be delighted by what they are seeing at the moment with the Magpies unbeaten in six Championship games.
The Magpies bounced back from a sloppy first half that resulted in them being 2-1 down and up against it. But Benitez believes his team are showing exactly the right application as the promotion race hots up.
He said: “It’s always important for the rest of this competition, not just for that game. To react like that means we have character and passion.
“The players care about what is going on. I think the fans should be pleased with this reaction.
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“Hopefully we don’t need to do it every game but it has to be like that. I want to see the team playing well and showing great character on the pitch.”
Benitez knows his team can climb back to the top of the Championship with a victory over Aston Villa after Brighton beat Barnsley 2-0 at Oakwell.
However, he said: “Every game has to be the same.
“You approach it thinking you can get three points but if you can fine. If not, it’s not the end of the world.
“The QPR game we conceded late and only got a point but we won against Derby and carried on. Every week you will have disappointment.”
Meanwhile, Chris Hughton also played down the win for the Seagulls over Barnsley.
The ex-Toon boss commented: “I think for us that have been in the game a long time, we know that things can be so different come the next game.
“We don’t get much time to enjoy it, we’re back in on Monday, but it’s a really pleasing result.”