NEWCASTLE RELEGATED

The Magpies had a pre-season target of a top-eight finish but have spent the majority of the season in the relegation zone and their return to the Championship was confirmed by Sunderland's 3-0 win over Everton at the Stadium of Light on Wednesday. Rafa Benitez could barely have imagined he'd be involved in a relegation scrap with Newcastle when he was appointed manager of Real Madrid at the start of this season. However, had he arrived in the north east sooner he may well have been able to steer the Magpies to safety.

Steve McClaren, himself only named Newcastle boss last summer, saw his failed tenure end on 11 March after weeks of speculation about his future. By that stage, seven defeats in 10 Premier League games had left Newcastle stuck in the relegation zone and Benitez was given just 10 fixtures to save their top-flight status. 

The first four games yielded just one point - a dramatic draw in the Tyne-Wear derby - but Benitez has since inspired his side to a five-game unbeaten run (their best streak since November 2014) and has matched the two wins McClaren managed in his final 12 games with victories over Swansea and Crystal Palace.

The problem for Newcastle was it was too little, too late. A situation reminiscent of the club's 2008/09 relegation, when Alan Shearer took over from temporary boss Chris Hughton with eight games to play. "They have made exactly the same mistake as seven years ago by not giving the new man enough time," Shearer told The Sun. "In 2009, I was made manager with just eight games to go. I knew straight away it was not long enough. It took Rafa four of his 10 games to work his team out."The club's main striker Aleksandar Mitrovic - signed last summer for £13m after impressing in Belgium - has managed just eight goals in the Premier League, while midfielder Andros Townsend, who only joined the club at the end of January, is already two behind third top-scorer Ayoze Perez's total of six.

Newcastle managed just 28 goals in 28 games under McClaren and, while their shooting has improved under Benitez - they have netted 11 goals in nine games under the Spaniard and have failed to score in just two of those matches - the goalscoring feats of Sunderland's Jermain Defoe are an obvious difference between the rivals.As with most relegated teams, Newcastle have had problems at both ends of the pitch. While Mitrovic and co have been off target up front, only Aston Villa have shipped more goals than the Magpies at the back.Once again, there has been an improvement under Benitez - Newcastle have recorded three clean sheets in his nine games in charge after managing just five in their previous 28. Indeed, six of the 10 goals conceded since Benitez's appointment came in two games against Norwich and Southampton.

Newcastle certainly haven't been helped in this area by injuries, though. First-choice 'keeper Tim Krul has missed most of the season with a cruciate injury, while key centre-back and captain Fabricio Coloccini has spent significant time on the sidelines, as have fellow defenders Massadio Haidara, Kevin Mbabu, Steven Taylor and Paul Dummett.