RAFA BENITEZ insists he was delighted to guide Newcastle United into the fourth round of the FA Cup and hopes the extra-time victory over Blackburn Rovers can boost the push to stay in the Premier League

With only a four-day gap until the Magpies face Cardiff City at St James’ Park in a relegation battle, Benitez’s team could have done without last night’s replay; the fact it went beyond the 90 minutes will not have helped either.

The Spaniard made eight changes to the team that faced Chelsea last Saturday in a sign of how he treats the two competitions, but he was full of smiles in the media suite as Newcastle finally edged out their Championship opponents 4-2 after 120 minutes.

Now, after seeing his side score four including a rare strike from striker Joselu, he is hoping the result will help them against the Bluebirds, having also enjoyed watching Sean Longstaff, Callum Roberts and Ayoze Perez find the net.

Benitez said: “You wanted to win, we needed to win before. The character they showed, the young players scoring goals, Joselu scoring too, and that has to be good for us. The confidence has to help us to score goals. The players who weren’t playing needed this.

“It was another positive, to score two goals in the 90 minutes and to have the chance to score a further two is nice.

“To react the way we reacted to conceding two, we have to be pleased because they showed they care and the work effort is there. The commitment especially in extra-time was really good.”

After scoring early through Longstaff inside a minute, Newcastle added a second when Roberts scored a lovely volley in the 22nd minute.

But Newcastle allowed Blackburn back into it with goals from former Newcastle youngster Adam Armstrong and Darragh Lenihan before the break.

There were no goals in the second half so it was down to Joselu in the 115th minute to put Newcastle back in front, despite reacting from an offside position when Fabian Schar’s effort was saved. Perez made sure of a fourth round tie against Watford with the fourth after the interval.

Rovers boss Tony Mowbray said: “It’s not an argument, it was offside. If VAR was on it would be offside. It is not an argument. It was offside. Maybe the world will change with VAR!

“The keeper should have done better, it is disappointing for the third goal and the fourth goal. But I thought we applied ourselves very well. Newcastle have a pretty good squad of players, 25 in the Premier League so they are good players.”

Benitez responded: “I wasn’t happy with a few too many things but that is what happens in football. I don’t think it was luck, their second goal we thought it was a foul against our player. We scored the third and you can complain if you want but we scored four goals so hard to complain.”

Newcastle lost Ciaran Clark and Jamaal Lascelles through injury, while Isaac Hayden took a knock too so there will be a body count before the Cardiff game.

Benitez said: “At the same time you have some problems and you lose some players, we will see how they are in a couple of days. We won and everyone has to be happy and we have to have confidence from this.

“Clark I don’t think will be very serious, he took a kick on his knee, had inflammation. Jamaal we will have to wait because it is a hamstring. Hayden was fine, he had a kick in the back.”

Benitez also revealed that Kenedy was missing with a toe nail issue, while Jonjo Shelvey and Paul Dummett will be assessed ahead of the weekend.

Newcastle’s first two goalscorers at Ewood Park both found the net for the first time at senior level for the club.

Roberts said: “It’s hard to put it into words. It hasn’t sunk in yet, it’s surreal. I’m sure it’ll sink in eventually. It was a great experience.

“To play 90 minutes and a little bit more, it’s what you work for every day. The manager told me on Sunday (I’d be playing), and I’m so grateful he gave me the chance.”