Newcastle United boss Rafa Benitez believes one more victory could be enough to ensure that his side preserve their Premier League status at the end of the season.
The Magpies have lost only one of their last six league games to move seven points clear of the relegation places, with their latest outing seeing grab a late equaliser in a 2-2 draw at Bournemouth thanks to a superb volley from Matt Ritchie against his former club.
We have to keep going, the job is not done. We have to keep winning games.
Rafa Benitez
However, Benitez thinks that is still a little more work to do before he and his players can celebrate top-flight survival.
He told reporters: "We have to keep going, the job is not done. We have to keep winning games.
"I think it could be 38 points, it depends. Obviously, 40 is guaranteed for me. I think 38 will be enough, so we have to keep winning if we can."
Of the battling qualities of his team, he added: "The players showed character. They were working really hard until the last minute.
"In the end the team showed what we were expecting in this kind of game. We tried and we got the point, but maybe it could have been even more."
Following the international break, Newcastle return to action on Monday 1st April when they face testing trip to the Emirates Stadium to take on Arsenal.
Earlier this season goals from Granit Xhaka and Mesut Ozil secured a 2-1 win for the Gunners at St James' Park, with the lone reply from the hosts coming from Ciaran Clark.
Newcastle are 7/2 to earn a point at the Emirates, with the Tynesiders 1/1000 not to be relegated this season and 150/1 to suffer relegation to the Championship.
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Newcastle United boss Rafa Benitez believes one more victory could be enough to ensure that his side preserve their Premier League status at the end of the season.
The Magpies have lost only one of their last six league games to move seven points clear of the relegation places, with their latest outing seeing grab a late equaliser in a 2-2 draw at Bournemouth thanks to a superb volley from Matt Ritchie against his former club.
We have to keep going, the job is not done. We have to keep winning games.
Rafa Benitez
However, Benitez thinks that is still a little more work to do before he and his players can celebrate top-flight survival.
He told reporters: "We have to keep going, the job is not done. We have to keep winning games.
"I think it could be 38 points, it depends. Obviously, 40 is guaranteed for me. I think 38 will be enough, so we have to keep winning if we can."
Of the battling qualities of his team, he added: "The players showed character. They were working really hard until the last minute.
"In the end the team showed what we were expecting in this kind of game. We tried and we got the point, but maybe it could have been even more."
Following the international break, Newcastle return to action on Monday 1st April when they face testing trip to the Emirates Stadium to take on Arsenal.
Earlier this season goals from Granit Xhaka and Mesut Ozil secured a 2-1 win for the Gunners at St James' Park, with the lone reply from the hosts coming from Ciaran Clark.
Newcastle are 7/2 to earn a point at the Emirates, with the Tynesiders 1/1000 not to be relegated this season and 150/1 to suffer relegation to the Championship.
View all Soccer betting
Source: bet365.com