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Premier League
Sep 16, 2017 at 3pm UK
 
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2-1

Atsu (19'), Lascelles (68')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Shaqiri (57')

Rafael Benitez: 'League position means nothing'

Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez insists that it is too early to look at the Premier League table despite seeing his side climb up to fourth by beating Stoke City.

Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez has played down the significance of his side's lofty league position after five games of the season.

Jamaal Lascelles was the match-winner for the second game running as his second-half header helped the Magpies to a 2-1 triumph over Stoke City - their third league victory on the bounce.

Benitez's side now sit fourth in the Premier League table as a result, but he stressed that it is far too early to be discussing league position.

"I haven't seen the table and I don't want to see the table, believe me. I said one game at a time and now it's just to be sure that the fans enjoy it," he told reporters.

"They can enjoy it, we have to enjoy it, but we have to be sure that the next training session, we start correcting things and improving things and doing things in the way we are doing things at the moment. That's our responsibility.

"The main thing is that, the togetherness, the work-rate, the character, the whole team, the connection with the fans because the fans appreciate that. I put in the programme notes that this is something that's really important, players who want to stay, want to fight, want to defend the black and white shirt, and they are doing that.

"The fans, they appreciate that and for us to do that every week and the captain leading by example is something that you have to be really pleased with."

Newcastle take on Brighton & Hove Albion in their next league game looking to make it four top-flight wins on the bounce for the first time since November 2014.

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Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez dreams of Istanbul ahead of his side's Premier League meeting with Manchester City on April 19, 2016
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2Arsenal38285591296289
3Liverpool382410486414582
4Aston Villa382081076611568
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs382061274611366
6Chelsea381891177631463
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle381861485622360
8Manchester UnitedMan Utd38186145758-160
9West Ham UnitedWest Ham381410146074-1452
10Crystal Palace381310155758-149
11Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton381212145562-748
12Bournemouth38139165467-1348
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14Wolverhampton WanderersWolves38137185065-1546
15Everton38139164051-1140
16Brentford38109195665-939
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3899204967-1832
RLuton TownLuton3868245285-3326
RBurnley3859244178-3724
RSheffield UnitedSheff Utd38372835104-6916


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