A DOWNBEAT Rafael Benitez has admitted he was “disappointed” and “surprised” at Newcastle United’s failure to sign Andros Townsend on transfer-deadline day.

Benitez watched his side pass up the opportunity to move back to the top of the Championship table last night when Ciaran Clark’s 90th-minute own goal enabled QPR to claim a 2-2 draw at St James’ Park.

Despite scoring through Jonjo Shelvey and Matt Ritchie, the Magpies will find themselves four points off top spot if Brighton beat Huddersfield tonight, and Benitez’s frustration at events on the field was accentuated by his lingering unhappiness at the events of Tuesday night.

The Spaniard began last month insisting he needed a winger and a central midfielder to provide adequate cover for the final three months of the season, but the transfer window closed without Newcastle having made a single addition.

The club’s failure to land Townsend was especially disappointing, with the England winger having expressed a desire to return to St James’ Park.

However, with Mike Ashley having reasserted his dominance over transfer matters, the Magpies’ recruitment team were unwilling to meet Palace’s demands of a £2m loan fee and an agreement for a £13m permanent transfer in the summer.

“I said before, I’m disappointed (at the lack of signings),” said Benitez. “But at the same time, I have to concentrate on the players we have and I have to improve them as much as I can.

“Am I surprised there were no signings? Yes. We knew what we needed, and we knew what we have. I was in communication with Lee (Charnley) all the time, so I know more or less what we have done. Still, I don’t know what happened.”

In the summer, Benitez was insisting that he would have sole responsibility for footballing matters, so his admission that he “did now know” what was happening on Tuesday night will set alarm bells ringing.

To what extent Ashley’s re-emergence on the scene will dictate what happens in the summer remains to be seen, although conversations over future spending plans will remain immaterial unless Newcastle are able to reclaim a place in the Premier League.

To that end, last night’s result represented a considerable setback, but while it has been a difficult few days, with the disappointment of deadline day following hot on the heels of Saturday’s FA Cup embarrassment at Oxford United, Benitez insists it is important that everyone sticks together.

Steve McClaren brings an in-form Derby County side to Gallowgate on Saturday, and Newcastle cannot allow any lingering frustration to fester if they are to get their promotion push back on track.

“It is a long season,” said Benitez. “Hopefully, if this is the worst (week), then it means the others will be better. What we have to do now, and I have to be clear, is stick together.

“We have the fans, and they have to realise they need to support the team, they have to be behind the team. They have to realise that these are the players we have, and they can be very important players for this club.

“If we are promoted, they will be there. They will be famous, they will be heroes, they will be important. Stick together, work hard together, and then we can achieve what we want to achieve.”

Last night’s result represented a setback in terms of Newcastle’s promotion ambitions, with Clark’s own goal robbing the Magpies of what had looked a certain three points.

There appeared to be very little danger when former Newcastle academy product Kazenga LuaLua swung over a cross from the left, but with goalkeeper Karl Darlow having left his line, Clark glanced a backwards header into a vacant net.

“It was very difficult because it was a flat ball and you have to decide quickly if you head the ball or leave it for the keeper,” said Benitez. “Sometimes, it can happen.

“The main thing is we did not take the chances we had. We didn’t need to be thinking about if we concede in the last minute or not.”

Yesterday’s game was a marked contrast to September’s fixture between the two sides at Loftus Road, which Newcastle won 6-0. Ian Holloway has completely revamped the QPR squad since then, and the Rangers boss was critical of what he perceived to be a sense of undue expectation from the Magpies’ home support.

“A draw is not end of the world, but some of their fans turned up expecting to win, you could sense that tonight,” said Holloway. “That shouldn’t be the case, they have to play their part, support the team, not just turn up, but, if I’m honest, we should have won.”