On United’s fans, Rafa Benitez said: “The same message from day one, to keep supporting the team and stick together and we will be stronger.
“We have seen how important it is for our fans when we go away, and our fans are very loyal. We have to use those in our favour.”
Benitez will not be following this afternoon’s matches.
“I won’t be looking at the other games,” he said.
“After the games, I will be told the results, but you can’t change nothing, so why suffer during it?”
The Toon's Greatest 100 Players. . .Ever! - £10.99
Available from Amazon and Kindle: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Toons-Greatest-100-Players-Ever/dp/132629685X
Or contact: Kevnumad@fsmail.net for a signed copy.
This book is a collection of the 100 Greatest Newcastle United players of all time, as voted for by NewcastleUtd-Mad.co.uk readers and a panel of journalists who contribute to the website.
The players are in an order of five-per-chapter, counting down from 100 to Newcastle United's greatest ever player (as viewed by the author), but the whole point of the book is for You (the reader) to decide who goes where.
The list is not, by any means, definitive. As with all books of this nature, whether it be "Greatest Albums"; "Best Movies Of All Time"; or "Top 100 Pin-Ups Of The Year" . . . no two people have exactly the same opinion.
There will be controversy over who is on the list, and chances are, more controversy over who is not.
Here are the best of the best. I have painted the picture with each player's profile. Where they end up in the league of Nufc's Greatest is up to you.
Because You have the final word.
IPSWICH 3 NEWCASTLE 1 (Murphy)
Darlow, Dummett, Hanley, Lascelles, Yedlin (Gamez 78), Ritchie (Mitrovic 82), Shelvey, Hayden (Gouffran 61), Diame, Atsu, Murphy
Subs not used: Colback, Perez, Mbemba, Elliot
NEWCASTLE 1 LEEDS 1 (Lascelles)
Darlow, Anita, Lascelles, Mbemba, Dummett, Ritchie (Yedlin 84), Shelvey, Hayden (Colback 79), Gouffran, Perez (Diame 90), Mitrovic
Unused Subs:Elliot, Hanley, Murphy, Atsu
SHEFFIELD WED 2 NEWCASTLE 1 (Shelvey)
Darlow, Anita, Lascelles, Mbemba, Dummett, Ritchie (Mitrovic 78'), Shelvey, Diamé (Atsu 72'), Gouffran, Pérez, Gayle (Murphy 29')
Subs: Haidara, Elliot, Gámez, Ameobi
NEWCASTLE 1 BURTON 0 (Ritchie)
Darlow, Anita, Lascelles, Mbemba, Dummett, Ritchie, Shelvey, Diame, Atsu (Ameobi 89), Perez, Gayle (Murphy 90+1)
Subs not used: Hanley, Haidara, Gouffran, Elliot, Jesus Gamez
NEWCASTLE 2 WIGAN 1 (Gale, Ritchie)
Darlow; Anita, Lascelles, Hanley, Dummett, Atsu, Colback, Shelvey, Ritchie, Gouffran (Hayden, 69), Diamé (Atsu, 62), Gayle (Perez, 79).
Subs not used: Elliot, Mbemba, Gámez, Mitrovic.
BIRMINGHAM 0 NEWCASTLE 0
Darlow, Anita, Lascelles, Hanley, Dummett, Ritchie, Diame, Colback, Gouffran (Atsu 82), Perez (Shelvey 78), Murphy (Gayle 63)
Unused Subs: Elliot, Gamez, Mbemba, Mitrovic
NEWCASTLE 0 FULHAM 3
Darlow, Anita, Lascelles, Clark (Gámezat 64'), Dummett, Atu, Colback, Shelvey, Ritchie (Murphyat 61'), Gayle (Gouffran 74'), Diame.
Subs not used: Hanley, Pérez, Elliot, Mitrovic
READING 0 NEWCASTLE 0
Darlow, Gamez, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie, Colback (Diame 88), Shelvey, Gouffran (Atsu 69), Perez, Murphy (Gayle 75)
Unused Subs:Elliot, Hanley, Mbemba, Anita
HUDDERSFIELD 1 NEWCASTLE 3 (Ritchie pen, Murphy, Gayle)
Darlow; Anita, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett; Ritchie, Shelvey, Colback (Gouffran 72), Atsu (Yedlin 81); Diame; Murphy (Gayle 66)
Subs not used: Hanley, Perez, Elliot, Gamez
BRIGHTON 1 NEWCASTLE 2 (Diame, Perez)
Darlow, Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie, Colback (Murphy 74), Shelvey, Atsu, Diame, Gouffran (Perez 82)
Unused Subs: Elliot, Hanley, Gamez, Anita, Mitrovic
NEWCASTLE 2 BRISTOL CITY 2 (Smith (og), Clark)
Darlow; Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Shelvey, Colback (Diaméat 58), Ritchie, Pérez( Gouffran 79) Atsu, Mitrovic
Subs not used: Elliot, Hanley, Gamez, Anita, Murphy
NEWCASTLE 2 ASTON VILLA 0 (Gouffran, Lansbury (og))
Darlow; Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett; Colback, Shelvey; Ritchie, Diame, Gouffran; Gayle (Mitrovic 33).
Subs not used: Elliot, Hanley, Lazaar, Perez, Gamez.
NORWICH 2 NEWCASTLE 2 (Perez, Lascelles)
Darlow, Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie (70' Atsu), Shelvey, Colback (54' Diame), Gouffran, Perez, Mitrovic (76' Gayle)
Subs: Hanley, Hayden, Elliot, Gamez
WOLVES 0 NEWCASTLE 1 (Mitrovic)
Darlow, Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie (82' Murphy), Colback, Shelvey, Gouffran, Diame (88' Perez), Mitrovic (45' Atsu)
Subs: Hanley, Hayden, Elliot, Gamez
NEWCASTLE 1 DERBY CO 0 (Ritchie)
Darlow, Yedlin, Hanley, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie, Shelvey, Hayden (49' Perez), Gouffran (90+3' Lascelles), Diame, Mitrovic (84' Ameobi)
Subs: Lazaar, Elliot, Gamez, Murphy
NEWCASTLE 2 QPR 2 (Shelvey, Ritchie)
Darlow, Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie, Shelvey, Hayden, Gouffran, Perez (86' Diame), Murphy (66' Ameobi)
Subs: Hanley, Lazaar, Gamez, Mitrovic, Sels
FAC OXFORD UTD 3 NEWCASTLE UTD 0
Sels, Gamez, Hanley, Lazaar, Haidara (77' Ritchie), Hayden, Barlaser, El-Mhanni (68' Gouffran), Perez, Mitrovic
Subs: Dummett, Lascelles,Shelvey, Elliot, Yedlin
NEWCASTLE 4 ROTHERHAM 0 (Murphy, Ritchie 2 (1 pen), Perez)
Darlow, Yedlin (80' Sterry), Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie, Hayden, Shelvey, Gouffran (64' Ameobi), Perez, Murphy (75' Lazaar)
Subs: Barlaser, Hanley, Haidara, Sels
FAC NEWCASTLE UTD 3 BIRMINGHAM 1 (Ritchie 2 (1 pen), Gouffran)
Sels, Yedlin (75' Hayden), Hanley, Findlay, Lazaar, Shelvey, Tiote (82' Colback), Ritchie, Ben El-Mhanni (70' Perez), Barlaser, Gouffran
Subs: Dummett, Lascelles, Elliot, Murphy
BRENTFORD 1 NEWCASTLE 2 (Gayle, Murphy)
Darlow, Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie, Hayden (62' Anita - 72' Hanley), Colback, Gouffran, Perez, Gayle (28' Murphy)
Subs: Lazaar, Sels, Sterry, Ameobi
FA CUP BIRMINGHAM 1 NEWCASTLE 1 (Murphy)
Sels, Yedlin, Lascelles, Hanley, Haidara (69' Ritchie), Anita, Colback, Tiote (65' Hayden), Lazaar, Murphy, Mitrovic (10' Gouffran)
Subs: Clark, Dummett, Gayle, Darlow
BLACKBURN 1 NEWCASTLE 0
Darlow, Anita (87' Murphy), Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie, Hayden, Colback (77' Perez), Gouffran (85' Atsu), Diame, Gayle
Subs: Lazaar, Mbemba, Yedlin, Sels
NEWCASTLE 3 NOTTM FOREST 1 (Ritchie, Gayle 2)
Darlow, Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie (83' Lazaar), Colback (67' Diame), Hayden, Atsu, Perez, Gayle (88' Mitrovic)
Subs: Anita, Mbemba, Gouffran, Sels
NEWCASTLE 0 SHEFF WED 1
Darlow, Anita, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie, Hayden, Colback (80' Mitrovic), Gouffran (62' Atsu), Diame (69' Perez), Gayle
Subs: Lazaar, Mbemba, Yedlin, Sels
BURTON 1 NEWCASTLE 2 (Gayle, Diame)
Darlow, Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Atsu, Shelvey, Hayden, Ritchie (85' Gouffran), Diame, Gayle
Subs: Lazaar, Anita, Perez, Mbemba, Sels, Mitrovic
WIGAN 0 NEWCASTLE 2 (Diame, Atsu)
Darlow, Anita, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie (69' Atsu), Shelvey, Hayden, Gouffran, Diame, Gayle (82' Perez)
Subs: Lazaar, Mbemba, Yedlin, Sels, Mitrovic
NEWCASTLE 4 BIRMINGHAM 0 (Gayle 3, Gouffran)
Darlow, Anita, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie, Shelvey, Hayden (82' Lazaar), Gouffran (70' Atsu), Diame, Gayle (79' Mitrovic)
Subs: Mbemba, Yedlin, Tiote, Sels
NOTTINGHAM FOREST 2 NEWCASTLE UTD 1 (Ritchie)
Darlow, Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Hayden, Shelvey, Ritchie, Perez (45' Anita), Gouffran (77' Diame), Gayle (87' Mitrovic)
Subs: Mbemba, Tiote, Sels, Atsu
LC HULL CITY 1 NEWCASTLE UNITED 1 (Diame) * Lost on pens
Sels, Anita (108 Yedlin), Lascelles, Clark, Lazaar, Ritchie (80 Atsu), Shelvey, Hayden (105 Murphy), Gouffran, Diame, Gayle
Subs: Dummett, Mbemba, Tiote, Darlow
NEWCASTLE 0 BLACKBURN ROVERS 1
Darlow, Yedlin, Mbemba (85' Gayle), Clark, Gamez (55' Dummett), Ritchie, Hayden, Shelvey, Atsu, Perez, Mitrovic
Subs: Lascelles, Anita, Diame, Gouffran, Sels
LEEDS UTD 0 NEWCASTLE 2 (Gayle 2)
Darlow, Anita, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie, Colback (83' Hayden), Shelvey, Gouffran (76' Diame), Perez, Gayle (79' Mitrovic)
Subs: Mbemba, Yedlin, Sels, Atsu
NEWCASTLE 2 CARDIFF 1 (Atsu, Gouffran)
Darlow, Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Atsu (89' Diame), Shelvey, Hayden, Gouffran (72' Anita), Perez, Mitrovic
Subs: Colback, Hanley, Lazaar, Gayle, Sels
PRESTON 1 NEWCASTLE 2 (Mitrovic 2)
Darlow, Yedlin (90+5' Hanley), Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie (90+2' Atsu), Hayden, Shelvey, Gouffran, Diame, Mitrovic (86' Perez)
Subs: Lazaar, Anita, Gamez, Sels
LC NEWCASTLE 6 PRESTON 0 (Mitrovic 2, Diame 2, Ritchie (pen), Perez)
Sels, Yedlin, Mbemba, Hanley, Dummett (58' Anita), Ritchie (75' Perez), Hayden, Colback (32' Shelvey), Atsu, Diame, Mitrovic
Subs: Clark, Gayle, Gouffran, Darlow
NEWCASTLE 3 IPSWICH TOWN 0 (Perez 2, Ritchie)
Darlow, Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie, Colback, Shelvey (83' Hayden), Gouffran (75' Atsu), Perez, Gayle (79' Mitrovic)
Subs: Anita, Diame, Mbemba, Sels
BARNSLEY 0 NEWCASTLE 2 (Gayle 2)
Darlow, Anita, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Shelvey, Hayden, Ritchie (83' Atsu), Diame (90+2' Colback), Gouffran, Gayle
Subs: Lazaar, Perez, Yedlin, Sels, Mitrovic
NEWCASTLE 3 BRENTFORD 1 (Clark, Gayle 2)
Darlow; Anita, Lascelles (Hanley 60), Clark, Dummett; Shelvey, Colback; Atsu (Yedlin 72), Perez, Gouffran (Lazaar 84); Gayle.
Subs: Sels, Hayden, Diame, Mitrovic.
ROTHERHAM 0 NEWCASTLE 1 (Atsu)
Darlow, Anita, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Atsu (67' Ritchie), Shelvey, Colback, Gouffran, Diame (87' Hanley), Gayle (79' Mitrovic)
Subs: Hayden, Mbemba, Yedlin, Sels
NEWCASTLE 4 NORWICH 3 (Gayle 3, Gouffran)
Darlow, Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett (92 Atsu), Ritchie, Shelvey, Colback (71' Hayden), Gouffran, Diame (71' Mitrovic), Gayle
Subs: Lazaar, Perez, Mbemba, Sels
ASTON VILLA 1 NEWCASTLE 1 (Elphick og)
Sels, Yedlin (75' Tiote), Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie, Hayden, Shelvey, Gouffran, Diame, Gayle (80' Mitrovic)
Subs: Hanley, Lazaar, Perez, Darlow, Atsu
LC NEWCASTLE 2 WOLVES 0 (Ritchie, Gouffran)
Darlow, Yedlin, Hanley, Clark, Lazaar, Shelvey, Colback, Ritchie (86' Lascelles), Diame (72' Perez), Gouffran (75' Atsu), Murphy
Subs: Dummett, Hayden, Woodman, Mitrovic
NEWCASTLE UTD 0 WOLVES 2
Sels, Anita, Mbemba, Lascelles, Dummett, Hayden (Mitrovic 62) Shelvey, Ritchie (Atsu 63), Diame, Perez, Gayle
Subs not used: Clark, Colback, Gouffran, Yedlin, Darlow
QPR 0 NEWCASTLE 6 (Shelvey 2, Perez, Clark, Mitrovic, Hanley)
Sels, Anita, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett (65' Hanley), Gouffran (61' Atsu), Hayden, Shelvey, Ritchie, Perez, Mitrovic (74' Yedlin)
Subs: Colback, Gayle, Diame, Darlow
DERBY CO 0 NEWCASTLE 2 (Gouffran, Yedlin)
Sels, Anita, Mbemba, Lascelles, Dummett, Ritchie, Shelvey, Colback, Gouffran (73' Yedlin), Diame (88' Hayden), Gayle (76' Perez)
Subs: Clark, Lazaar, Darlow, Mitrovic
NEWCASTLE 2 BRIGHTON 0 (Lascelles, Shelvey)
Sels, Anita (72' Gamez), Mbemba, Lascelles, Dummett, Ritchie, Hayden, Shelvey, Gouffran (88' Yedlin), Diame (81' Colback), Perez
Subs: Clark, Hanley, Darlow, Armstrong
(LC) NEWCASTLE 2 CHELTENHAM 0 (Perez 2)
Darlow, Sterry, Lascelles, Hanley, Gamez, Aarons (24' Gouffran), Shelvey, Colback, Perez, Diame, Mitrovic (38' Gayle)
Subs: Dummett, Hayden, Mbemba, Sels
BRISTOL CITY 0 NEWCASTLE 1 (Gayle)
Sels, Anita, Mbemba, Lascelles, Clark, Ritchie, Hayden (87' Shelvey), Colback, Gouffran, Diame (63' Perez), Gayle (88' Aarons)
Subs: Dummett, Hanley, Darlow, Sterry
NEWCASTLE 4 READING 1 (Hayden, Ritchie (P), Gayle 2)
Sels, Anita, Mbemba, Clark, Dummett, Hayden, Shelvey, Ritchie (90' Aarons), Perez (76' Lascelles), Gouffran (84' Colback), Gayle
Subs: Hanley, Janmaat, Darlow, Armstrong
NEWCASTLE 1 HUDDERSFIELD 2 (Gayle)
Sels, Janmaat (83' Armstrong), Mbemba, Lascelles, Dummett, Anita, Hayden, Shelvey, Aarons (45' Ritchie), Diame (75' Perez), Gayle
Subs: Clark, Colback, Darlow, Gamez
FULHAM 1 NEWCASTLE 0
Sels; Janmaat, Lascelles, Hanley, Dummett; Hayden (Shelvey 77), Colback (Aarons 61); Ritchie, Perez (Armstrong 70), Anita; Gayle.
Subs Mbemba, Darlow, Jesus Gamez, Sterry.
NEWCASTLE 3 VITESSE ARNHEM 2 (Leerdam (og), Gayle, Colback)
Sels; Janmaat (Sterry, 74), Hanley (Gamez, 62), Lascelles, Dummett; Hayden (Saivet, 74), Colback (Shelvey, 62); Anita (Mitrovic, 74), Perez (Armstrong, 62), Ritchie (Aarons, 62); Gayle (Gouffran, 74). Subs not: Darlow, Tiote, Thauvin.
SOUTHEND UTD 0 NEWCASTLE 2 (Anita, Gouffran)
Darlow; Janmaat (Sterry 63), Mbemba (Hanley 63), Lascelles, Dummett; Hayden (Colback 63), Shelvey (Saivet 73); Anita (Thauvin 78), Perez (Mitrovic 73), Aarons (Gouffran 63); Gayle (Armstrong 63).
Sub not used: Sels.
SPORTING LOKEREN 0 NEWCASTLE 4 (Perez 2, Perez, Janmaat, Shelvey)
Sels (Darlow 72); Sterry (Gouffran 63), Mbemba (Saivet 72), Lascelles (Dummett 63), Anita (Gamez 46); Hayden (Shelvey 46), Colback (Tiote 72); Janmaat, Perez (Mitrovic 46), Aarons (Thauvin 63), Gayle (Armstrong 63).
Subs not used: None.
DONCASTER ROVERS 2 NEWCASTLE UTD 2 (Hayden, Perez)
Sels, Janmaat (Sterry, 45), Mbemba (Saivet, 65), Lascelles (Dummett, 45), Colback (Hayden, 45), Anita (Gamez, 45), Ritchie (Gouffran, 45), Aarons (Perez, 45), Shelvey (Wijnaldum, 79), Mitrovic (Gayle, 45), Armstrong (Thauvin, 60).
BOHEMIANS 0 NEWCASTLE 6 (Ritchie, Mitrovic, Gayle, Thauvin, Aarons, Wijnaldum)
Sels, Anita, Lascelles, Mbemba, Sterry, Aarons, Colback, Gouffran, Ritchie, Saivet, Mitrovic.
Subs: Darlow, Gamez, Dummett, Wijnaldum, Shelvey, Hayden, Perez, Gayle, Janmaat, Tiote, Thauvin.