RAFA BENITEZ was furious with referee Mike Dean and blamed him for Newcastle United’s seventh home defeat in nine Premier League matches after Wolves' dramatic win on Tyneside.

Wolves struck a 95th minute winner through Matt Doherty to deflate St James’ Park after the Magpies had battled away for 33 minutes to keep the scoreline at 1-1.

Benitez felt DeAndre Yedlin didn’t deserve to be sent off for a professional foul after a pull on Diogo Jota because Jamaal Lascelles still had time to get across to cover, even though Yedlin was guilty of losing possession.

The Newcastle manager also felt Wolves defender Willy Boly deserved to have been dismissed soon after that when Ayoze Perez was left floored in the penalty area by an alleged elbow.

The two incidents left Benitez disgusted, and he claimed the sooner referees are given help by the Video Assistant Refereeing the better, with VAR due to be used in the Premier League from the start of next season.

“In the game we were controlling and were doing enough to create chances to win the game,” said Benitez, whose side had drawn level in the first half when Perez's header cancelled out Jota's opener.

“You see the red card and the elbow in the face of Ayoze, which is a penalty and a red card. We lose three points and have to keep fighting in difficult circumstances.

“I saw the replay and we need VAR, right now. You can see the replay. I was praising the referees after a player was talking and they fine me. So imagine how I feel now. You can see the two incidents in the video - it was unbelievable.

“When you have a player in the corner of the box, with the ball two or three metres away, he was pulling DeAndre and DeAndre was pulling him, and Lascelles was close enough.

“I cannot believe that every time he would put the ball in top corner and it’s clear chance to score, I cannot believe that. It’s very difficult to explain to our fans, when the team is fighting for survival.”

Newcastle have only won two of their home games this season and that form disappoints Benitez, who thinks VAR would have affected the outcomes of some of those defeats.

He said: “One hundred per cent. We need VAR and maybe (our home form) will change a little bit. I know where we are. When we finished the transfer window we knew it could be like this. But when you are doing well on the pitch, you expect something more."

After Boly had left Perez floored and in need of treatment, play was allowed to go on and Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka had to make a fine save to deny Doherty from scoring Wolves’ second sooner.

Benitez said: “It was an elbow in the face, he was bleeding. It was so obvious. I have seen the replay, you can see the face of the player (Boly) and after what happened. Anyone can see that, so we need VAR.”

And Perez said: “The guy elbowed me really hard straight in my nose. But the referee said it was the ball that hit me and not the elbow even though I was bleeding.”

The Newcastle camp’s stance on the alleged elbow incident even drew support from Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo, to a degree.

Santo said: “It’s a clear elbow on Ayoze but from my point of view - not being over protective - he jumps for the ball, he doesn’t see it and it’s not intentional.”

That didn’t calm Benitez down. The Spaniard knows the visit of Wolves was the first of three important fixtures before Christmas – ahead of dates with Huddersfield and Fulham – Newcastle could have done with winning to climb further away from the bottom three.

Benitez said: “When you care and you are fighting to do the best for your team, you cannot believe this type of situation can happen in the Premier League.”

He will also weigh up whether or not appeal against Dean’s decision to send Yedlin off.

He said: “I don't know. I'm so disappointed, I cannot understand what happened. Everything you've done in terms of hard work with the players and managing the game against a good team, now it means nothing.”

Newcastle defender Federico Fernandez will be monitored this week after being forced off with a calf injury at half-time.

Benitez has tried to focus on the football side of things at a time when owner Mike Ashley is trying to sell the club. Talks are ongoing with potential buyers and he is thought to be in discussions with at least two different groups.

There are also negotiations behind the scenes aimed at securing transfer deals early in January. Atlanta United playmaker Miguel Almiron is known to be one leading target, and he played in a 2-0 MLS Cup final win over Portland over the weekend.

He is expected to go next month but Almiron said: “I'm coming back in pre-season. When I got to Atlanta I didn’t think we would enjoy all this.

"It’s beautiful what I’ve lived here, and what I am living here. More for the people, you feel the love. I want to thank them for that."