Newcastle 2 Stoke 1: Jamaal Lascelles is Toon hero again with second-half winner

RAFA BENITEZ was back in business and it looks like his Newcastle side are too.

Jamaal LascellesGETTY

Jamaal Lascelles bags the winner for the Toon

Benitez was in the dug-out after being forced to miss the 1-0 win at Swansea a week ago due to complications from hernia surgery.

But he kept a low profile on his return as rejuvenated Toon made it three straight wins thanks to skipper Jamaal Lascelles after starting the season with a trio of defeats in league and cup.

But the Toon boss played it cool after the game, insisting: “When you win so many games in a row, the fans are excited and thinking about Europe for me it is one game at a time.

Newcastle took a 19th-minute lead after neither side had come near a sniff of goal.

Matt Ritchie by his own admission lucky not to be sent off for a Sadio Mane-style high boot on Swansea defender Alfie Mawson, produced something more cultured this time.

Christian AtsuGETTY

Christian Atsu nets past Jack Butland from close-range

The Scotland winger delivered a right-wing cross with his left foot and Christian Atsu raced in at the far post, beating Mame Biram Diouf to power the ball past keeper Jack Butland.

It was the former Chelsea winger’s first Premier League goal and Newcastle would have been out of sight had ex-Stoke striker Joselu not spurned a hat-trick of chances before Xherdan Shaqiri levelled on 57 minutes.

But Lascelles, who headed the winner from a Ritchie corner at Swansea, did the same again on 68 minutes to earn the praise of his manager. 

Benitez added: “It’s really important that we have players who want to stay, want to fight and defend the black and white shirt. The captain leading by example is something we must be pleased about.”

Stoke boss Mark Hughes admitted: “We have played better than that in recent weeks and it’s disappointing from our point of view. At key moments we have to be clinical.”

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