Benitez Expecting Tough Villa Test

By Dominic Scurr

Rafa Benitez is targeting his first back-to-back victories as Newcastle United manager when they travel to Aston Villa on Saturday (3pm kick-off).

The Magpies have gone four Barclays Premier League games without defeat, and following last weekend's single-goal victory over Crystal Palace at St. James' Park - which moved them out of the relegation zone - Benítez admits that there is a positive atmosphere among the squad.

But the United boss knows his side will have to maintain their high standard of performance if they want to boost their survival hopes with three points against the Villans..

"The mood is very positive," said Benitez.

"Everybody is training well and has the right mentality to approach a difficult game at Aston Villa. The players believe that we can do well and the way they are working is the key to moving forward.

"Aston Villa are a good team but they are in a bad position because they have lost confidence.

"They have some good players so for us the main thing is to be sure that we keep playing at our level - if we do that I am confident that we will win."

United have been given a defensive boost ahead of their trip to an already-relegated Villa side, with Dutch pair Daryl Janmaat and Vurnon Anita both been passed fit. However, captain Fabricio Coloccini remains sidelined with a calf injury.

And while Benitez is hoping to see the Magpies' exploit the Villains' predicament, he still expects a tough test for his side this weekend.

"I don't see an easy game," continued the boss.

"Villa will play to win because they are professionals. It's not fair for a manager to comment on the weaknesses of the opposing team.

"You saw at Watford that their players are still trying, but they are where they are because they have made mistakes and we are the same.

"I know something will happen (Villa protests off the pitch) but we cannot change these things so we have to concentrate on our game and not let it change that.

"Sometimes it's good because it makes their players nervous but sometimes it's bad because it can make them perform better."

Regardless of what happens this weekend, Benitez still believes Newcastle's relegation battle will go right down to the wire.

"I think it will (go down to the final day)," he admitted.

"Obviously we have to win but so do the other teams. Even if we win at the weekend and the other teams don't, they still have a game in hand so I think it will go right to the end.

"We cannot change what (other teams) will do, the only thing we can do is try to get three point in our games.

"At the moment we're just concentrating on getting three points against Aston Villa."