Boss calls for 'intensity' and 'passion' as Magpies look to bounce back

The Magpies head to Vicarage Road on the back of successive defeats, having been beaten 1-0 by Everton a week past Monday before losing by the same scoreline at home to lowly West Bromwich Albion six days ago.

Swansea City’s failure to beat Chelsea later on the same day mathematically made sure of United’s top-flight status, and Benítez’s side remain in the top half of the table with just a week and a half of the campaign still to run.

However, the Spaniard does not want a largely positive season to end with little more than a whimper, and called for his charges to get back to basics in their penultimate away fixture of the year.

“A team like us, we have to be organised, we have to play with intensity and everything has to be done with the same pace and the same passion we had in the past,” he said. “As I have said before, it’s not the same when you need to eat and you have nothing to eat – you have to find something. When you have some food and you want to eat a little bit more, you say, ‘It is fine – I can wait some hours.’ That is maybe not a good example, but it is something that tries to explain that the desire, the passion, and the commitment of the players is different when you have to do it (compared) to when you have already done something, and then want to do a little bit more.

“But, it is the same for the majority of the teams in the middle of the table. It is quite complicated. It’s not about motivating the players – the players are motivated. But, these little things that make a difference during the games, your reaction is different to the past.”

Watford won 3-0 on Tyneside in the reverse fixture in November, a result which took their points tally to 21 from 13 games.

They have since amassed just 17 from their next 23, with boss Marco Silva replaced by Javi Gracia midway through their largely torrid run of form.

“Still they have some good players,” Benítez warned. “We were watching the last game, against Tottenham, and they had some chances on the counter attack. I think it’s a good team with some good players.

“We know the manager and his staff. They are trying to do their best. They were in a very, very good moment (in November). Now, it is at the end of the season, so for everybody that is safe, it is not easy, but I think we will expect some surprises from them.”