NEWCASTLE UNITED
Rafa Benitez steers Newcastle United back to Premier League
The Spaniard succeeded in his gamble of staying on as manager as he steered Newcastle United straight back up to the Premier League with a 4-1 win over Preston on Monday.Manchester United v. Manchester City live online
Rafael Benitez succeeded in his gamble of staying on as manager as he steered Newcastle United straight back up to the Premier League with a 4-1 win over Preston on Monday.
Magpies back in top flight
The former Liverpool and Real Madrid boss stayed on after they were relegated to the Championship at the end of last season and even though Newcastle stumbled of late, the victory over Preston guaranteed a top two finish.
Exactly 348 days after being relegated, Newcastle overcame their obvious nerves to bag a prize worth more than 100 million pounds ($127.92 million) and retain an outside chance of pipping Brighton & Hove Albion to the Championship title.
Two tap-ins from Ayoze Perez, a well-worked Christian Atsu goal and a Matt Ritchie penalty, after Preston's Paul Gallagher was sent off for handling on the line just past the hour mark, warmed the crowd of 50,212 on a bitter Tyneside night.
Captain Jamaal Lascelles added: "It is a bit overwhelming, to be honest. Getting back to the Premier League was always the aim and that is what we have done."
