DURING a managerial career that has spanned two-and-a-half decades, Rafael Benitez has amassed plenty of experience of battling at the top of the table.

From Madrid to Naples, London to Liverpool, the Newcastle United manager has spent the vast majority of his time fighting for league titles or European silverware.

Once upon a time, though, he inhabited far less exalted climes. His first senior managerial position, at Spanish side Real Valladolid, ended abruptly when he won just two of his first 23 league matches. At Osasuna, he was dismissed after just nine games. His time at Extremadura was more successful, although after guiding the provincial Spanish side to promotion from the Segunda Division, Benitez was unable to keep them in La Liga.

An assiduous note-taker, Benitez has kept diaries from his time at all of those clubs. So last month, as he desperately tried to rediscover a winning formula at Newcastle, the 58-year-old found himself flicking through his past records. Was there something he had missed? Were some of his decisions misguided? Was there a better way of inspiring his players to their first win of the season?

His conclusion? That he was on the right track. That everything was in place for a reversal of fortunes, if only his side’s luck turned or the chances that were being spurned ended up in the net. As a result, his approach to Saturday’s crucial home game with Watford was ‘more of the same’. By the time the final whistle blew, and a euphoric St James’ Park erupted, his faith had been fully justified.

“I have been using all my experience to think about what we could do to change things,” said Benitez. “I was reading all my notes from the past, and from psychology, looking for things you could do.

“I was checking everything. At Tenerife and Valencia, we were winning, so it was more Extremadura. When you are at Extremadura, it is more normal that you are at the bottom of the table. You have to analyse things and look at what you did.

“I am quite old now, I have experience, so I have a lot of notes about everything I have done. But we were trying everything, and we were so close, so we decided it was not really a case of having to change this or that because we were doing so well. We just needed to win to confirm that everything we were doing was right. Now, we have done that.”

It is strange how one result can change everything. Benitez is right to say that Saturday’s performance was not radically different to a number of Newcastle’s displays this season, and on another day, Watford could easily have been two or three goals ahead by half-time.

Adrian Mariappa wasted two glorious chances after he was left unmarked from a corner, Gerard Deulofeu failed to find the target from eight yards out and Martin Dubravka made a fine save to prevent Isaac Success from finding the bottom corner with a low shot. Five minutes into the second half, Roberto Pereyra drilled a first-time strike against the crossbar with Dubravka completely beaten.

So this was not a case of Newcastle suddenly outclassing a side that started the day in the top seven positions in the table. It was, however, an uplifting reaffirmation of the qualities and approach that proved so successful last season.

After a trying week that saw Jamaal Lascelles controversially call for an end to the anti-Ashley protests that have dominated the Tyneside agenda this autumn, this was an afternoon when Newcastle once again became united, both on and off the pitch.

There were sporadic chants against Ashley, and there was a brief post-match demonstration in front of the Milburn Stand, but on the whole, Newcastle’s supporters focused their energy on roaring on their players. The atmosphere gradually built to a crescendo in the second half, and the home side responded.

As they had for the majority of last season, Benitez’s players ran themselves into the ground, with their effort and commitment exemplified by the 50-yard run that enabled Kenedy to prevent Watford substitute Andre Gray from slotting home from close range.

Having been pegged back in the first half, the hosts got on the front foot in the second period, carving out a number of chances. Crucially, one was taken. It was a tale of two substitutes as Ki Sung-yueng drilled over a flat free-kick from the left-hand side, and Ayoze Perez stole ahead of his marker to glance home a near-post header. Cue delirium, and a win that took Newcastle out of the bottom three.

“We knew we needed to win,” said Benitez. “If we continue winning, maybe this will be one of my biggest results. What I will say is that it is a little bit difficult when you are doing well, but you cannot win. Then you go to the next game, and you can feel that confidence is low.

“The feeling is really good because after so many games and training sessions doing the right things, still we could not win. This was a prize for everything we did. I’m really pleased with that. How important? It could be massive for us. If we can carry on winning games, it will have been massive.”

The success also hinted at a hitherto hidden squad depth that Benitez will be keen to successfully utilise over the next few games. Losing Lascelles and Jonjo Shelvey to injury could have been a massive blow, but their replacements came on to make significant contributions to the win.

Fabian Schar has only made one league start since joining Newcastle from Deportivo La Coruna in the summer, but after coming on for Lascelles at the interval, the Swiss international displayed an authority and composure that was lacking in the player he replaced. Unlike Lascelles, he looked perfectly happy dealing with players breaking from deep.

Ki has been similarly underused since moving to Tyneside from Swansea, but whereas Shelvey looks to move the ball on quickly, his South Korean replacement was much more measured and nuanced in possession. As a result, Newcastle were able to gradually build pressure in the second half.

“All three of the players made a contribution,” said Benitez. “They were working hard, and on the ball they were also quite good. Ayoze was trying to hold the ball and looking for the second ball when (Salomon) Rondon was around, Ki was good on the ball, and Schar is another player who we know has quality on the ball. The three of them gave us something, and in a difficult game, we needed those things.”