It is Rafael Benítez’s 56th birthday on Saturday and he is hoping Newcastle United’s fans will help create a party atmosphere to remember.
“My wife is coming to the game so I want to be sure that we get three points and, afterwards, hopefully enjoy some cake,” said Benítez who is desperately seeking his first win since replacing Steve McClaren last month.
Achieving the inaugural victory under the former Liverpool and Real Madrid coach, which would throw Newcastle a potential Premier League survival lifeline, will involve beating Swansea City at St James’ Park and, with the stadium behind his imbalanced, injury ravaged team, Benítez believes anything is possible.
“We need momentum, we need to win this game,” said the Spaniard, who has presided over a draw and three defeats since arriving on Tyneside. “If we can do it, I believe we will then see the quality of these players.
“I can see they have the quality to go on a winning run but it is the time to stick together. If the fans stay behind the team, it will be stronger. It is not the time to complain and blame anyone.
“At the moment everyone’s energy has to be to push the players on, to be positive towards them. Every fan has to try and help us fight to stay in the Premier League. This team is not doing well away but at home I feel they can win and I am sure every fan will help us.
“We have four home games – [Swansea, Manchester City, Crystal Palace and Tottenham as well as Liverpool and Aston Villa away] – and it’s really important to have these four home games. The fans can make the difference. They will make the players run even faster.”
Benítez has instructed his players – currently second bottom and six points adrift of 17th-placed Norwich, albeit with a game in hand – to do their bit by walking off the pitch with “no regrets” at the final whistle.
“When you leave the pitch you have to be sure you have done everything,” he said. “So no regrets about anything, like ‘maybe I could have done this or gone on another run’. That is crucial.
“When you are under pressure you are sometimes not playing to the level you can play at; when you’ve been at the bottom all season it’s difficult to keep the confidence high. So the only thing you can guarantee is effort and passion. You can win, you can draw, you can lose but don’t look back and think: ‘I could have done something more.’”
Benítez must cope without the injured Daryl Janmaat, the Holland right-back who has had surgery on the hand he damaged punching a dressing room wall in frustration during last Saturday’s defeat at Southampton, and Fabricio Coloccini but welcomes back Paul Dummett and Jack Colback after injury and suspension respectively.
