Benitez still wants new signings
Ciaran Clark celebrates scoring for Newcastle Photo: REUTERS / Scott Heppell
Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez remains unbowed in his search for new players despite seeing his team finally open their Premier League account with victory over West Ham.
A first goal from summer singing Joselu and two more from Ciaran Clark and Aleksandar Mitrovic secured a 3-0 victory at St James' Park to dispel some of the disquiet on Tyneside. However, Benitez remains adamant that further additions to his squad are imperative.
Newcastle United's Aleksandar Mitrovic in action with West Ham United's Angelo Ogbonna Photo: REUTERS/Scott Heppell
Asked if he still needed to do business, the Spaniard said: "Yes, we have to. Nothing changed in the first two games and nothing has changed now. We have a clear idea of what we want to do and will try to do it."
Benitez's ongoing battle with owner Mike Ashley was pushed to one side for 90 minutes as the Magpies belatedly found their Premier League feet. Joselu fired them into a 36th-minute lead and Clark's 82nd-minute header and a third from substitute Mitrovic four minutes from time completed a good afternoon.
Benitez's opposite number, Slaven Bilic, who saw Declan Rice and then substitute Manuel Lanzini caught in possession for the first and second goals, has been under the spotlight in recent weeks and a third successive defeat will do little to quell the speculation.
Bilic said: "Look, I am the manager, it's my job to be confident and to believe in good and bad times."
West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic Photo: Reuters/Craig Brough
Bilic admitted he had not seen an alleged elbow from Mitrovic on Lanzini as time ran down.
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