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We Can't Be Complacent, Warns Rafa
Written by Newcastle Utd
Rafa Benitez has urged his side to avoid any complacency ahead of their trip to already-relegated Aston Villa
By Tom Easterby - Newcastle United Club Reporter
Newcastle United boss Rafa Benitez has urged his side to avoid any complacency ahead of their trip to already-relegated Aston Villa on Saturday (3pm kick-off).
The Magpies head to Villa Park this weekend for their penultimate Barclays Premier League fixture of the season, with the stakes higher than ever as they go in search of another vital victory in their battle to beat the drop.
But Benitez has warned that Villa - who led 2-1 at Watford last weekend before Troy Deeney's late brace condemned them to an 11th straight defeat - must not be underestimated, and that his side will have to retain their focus if they're to take another step towards safety.
"It's important, this message that we're giving to them - no complacency. Concentrate," said the Spaniard. "We have seen Aston Villa's last game and they were doing well against Watford. They did really well, so it's really important.
"We will play against Tottenham in the next game, but I think that the most important is this one. If we win this one, we'll approach the next one with the fans behind us and it will be easier to keep everyone on their toes and motivated.
"But for this game, we need to be sure we're focused and we cannot lose our concentration."
United currently lie in 17th place, one point above Sunderland and two above Norwich City, though both those sides have a game in hand on Benitez's men.
But the Magpies boss is confident that his team can handle the pressure that comes with trying to preserve their top flight status in the final two weeks of the campaign, and has urged his players to concentrate on their own games and not any peripheral factors at Villa Park on Saturday.
"I like a bit of tension, because I think you can perform better, but not too much. You cannot go there and play with anxiety. You have to play your game, and I think they will play their game," he said.
"(Villa) are a good team, but they are in a bad position and they have lost confidence, but they still have some good players and the work rate is there. For us, that is the main thing - that we will play at our level.
"If we win, it will be because (the players) are working as hard as they are working now. If we cannot, maybe it will be because Aston Villa have done well, but I have the confidence that we can win."