RAFAEL BENITEZ has hailed the magnificent seven claimed from Newcastle United’s last three matches as proof that his players can finish off the charge to the Premier League.

With ten matches remaining the Magpies are nine points clear of the play-off zone and three ahead of second-placed Brighton after emerging from a testing eight days on the road with a decent unbeaten run intact.

Newcastle followed up victories over promotion rivals Brighton and Huddersfield last week with a point at play-off contenders Reading to stay in command at the top of the Championship.

Even though the gap was reduced because of victories for Brighton and Huddersfield against Rotherham and Aston Villa, respectively, Newcastle are the big winners after showing their mettle by claiming seven points from three consecutive away dates.

Benitez said: “I will remember these points if we finish in the top two and think we did well, but if we don’t then I will be thinking about other things.

“These seven points show we are strong enough to carry on. This division is complicated, you play a lot of games in a short space of time. We have to keep going.

“It is not easy when you go away like we have, you don’t have time to recover. I am pleased we will be at home on Saturday against Fulham. It will be another top game.

“I want to send a message to the fans to stay behind the team, the fans need to push us in the right direction to get the points and get us to where we need to be. We have to make sure everyone is on their toes.”

Despite boasting the best away record in the Championship, Newcastle had to be on their guard against a Reading team which has the best home record; having lost just twice.

The Royals, who boasted 70 per cent of the possession, could easily have won in the second half and right at the death striker Lewis Grabban shaved the crossbar with an effort.

Benitez said: “I am happy. The thing is to go into these three games away and get seven points is quite good, especially for the players and their performances. I am pleased for the away fans to put smiles on their faces.

“We had enough chances to score ourselves. We maybe lost two points but we are happy with one point when you consider the crossbar at the end. When you consider our chances in the first half we could have won the game too.”

Newcastle have four more away games to break a club record and secure the 14th victory of the season on the road, having missed out on securing that honour at the Madejski Stadium.

Benitez is hugely satisfied with his players’ performances away from home. He said: “It depends on the attitude of the players, the way they work, the confidence they have is the key.

“You can prepare the game plan but it then depends on the players, they have been great. It has been good all season. They understand what we have done all season.

“I would like to enjoy such good form in our home games in front of 52,000 fans getting behind the team. But we know that the teams are coming to us to be compact, that’s what football is like now. The job is hard when they come to play Newcastle United at home. Most teams try to play counter attacking at home.”

Newcastle, who left out DeAndre Yedlin because of a suspected thigh tear, will head into Saturday’s visit of Fulham in confident mood after extending an unbeaten run to 11 league games dating back to January 2.

Reading boss Jaap Stam does not think Newcastle are the best footballing side that has arrived at the Madejski Stadium this season, even if he feels they will head back to the top-flight.

Stam, the former Manchester United defender, said: “We played very well against a good side like Newcastle. I am very happy with the performance.

“I think Newcastle will get away, they are a quality side. They are not giving many chances away. They can always break and create a chance to score a goal. They have a lot of quality to do well against every team. They are lots of points ahead. They will get away.”

He added: “Brighton and Fulham are the best two teams we have faced here, though, in terms of being two possession teams which is how I like to play football.”