Rafa calls for unity

The Magpies' manager knows that his table-topping side are there to be shot at, with every other club in the division keen to knock them off their perch.

And, ahead of Saturday's game against Birmingham, Benitez has called on his players, staff and the supporters to "stick together" after a run of three successive losses in all competitions.

United were reduced to nine men at the City Ground last time out, with both red cards subsequently rescinded by a Football Association Independent Regulatory Commission, while they also conceded two penalties and had a goal disallowed.

But Benitez said: "We will not waste too much time on that. Obviously we are disappointed because we can not get the three points that maybe we could get; at the same time, referees can make mistakes. We paid for that but we have the players coming back and we have to concentrate on the next game.

"The players realise, and hopefully the fans also, that if we stick together we can be stronger. If not, because we are top of the table, because we are a top side in the Championship, then it's easy (for things) to go against us. It's easy to say 'they can win because they have good players' or 'they've spent a lot of money' or whatever.

"So we have to stick together and be sure if we have any problem, we help each other."

He added: "We know that it is a long race and we know that we have to keep going and pushing.

"We can be upset, but at the same time we have to work harder.

"The performance of the team with nine players on the pitch was really, really good and showed that the players care about the club, about the result, about our position in the league.

"Hopefully it can be the same during the rest of the season but we have had this example with celebrations of players when they are on the bench; when the team score, they go and they share the celebrations all together. That, for me, is the way to keep the team as a team.

"If we can stick together, and also with our fans behind us, we will be much stronger and it will be more difficult for the other teams.

"Every day when you talk, when you see the reaction of the fans on the forums or any comments, what they are looking for from a Newcastle United player is that they have to give everything.

"They have seen nine players on the pitch, players outside, everyone pushing, trying to win, trying to get a result the other day. That is the way."

Benitez has confirmed that Ayoze Perez didn't train on Friday due to illness, but he will be able to call upon Jonjo Shelvey and Paul Dummett against a Birmingham side who currently occupy a play-off position.

"We play against a good team again - but even when we play against teams at the bottom of the table, they are quite difficult," said Benitez.

"I think (Birmingham) are doing a great job; they will be tough, and after we have to play in the FA Cup against them (next month). It's a good test. We played against Wolves and it was the same situation, Preston was the same situation and Birmingham will be more or less the same."