Newcastle's victory over Swansea was a triumph of resilience masterminded by absent boss Rafa Benitez via mobile
- Rafa Benitez gave orders by phone as he watched his side beat Swansea on TV
- Benitez was unable to attend as he continues recovery from a hernia operation
- Fitness coach Miguel Moreno took over touchline duties in Benitez's absence
- Moreno revealed after the Toon manager kept in contact via his mobile phone
- Newcastle ran out victors in the end thanks to Jamaal Lascelles' bullet header
Rafa Benitez masterminded a Newcastle win from his sickbed as he gave orders by phone while recovering from a hernia operation.
The Newcastle boss had to stay at his home in Merseyside after having surgery and watched on TV as a header from skipper Jamaal Lascelles defeated Swansea 1-0.
Fitness coach Miguel Moreno took over duties on the touchline and said: 'It was exactly what we wanted to deliver to Rafa — no doubt about that.
Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez masterminded their victory over Swansea by his mobile phone
'It was everything for him, and for his health, and also doing the job which we all planned to get the three points.'
Benitez might have been ruled out of travelling to South Wales, but he stayed hands-on for the game.
Defender Lascelles, who led by example, revealed: 'The manager rang me in the morning and told me, "Make sure the lads are on it".'
Miguel Moreno took over touchline duties as Benitez recovers from a hernia operation
Moreno revealed the way Newcastle's management team had stayed in touch during the game. 'He was talking to us all through the game,' said Moreno, who has been by the side of Benitez throughout his career after first working with him as a fitness coach at Liverpool.
'He was talking by phone to Antonio Gomez in the directors' box, who was sending messages to Mikel Antia on the touchline, who was telling me what he said. Between the four of us we were making all the plans.
'I have a 100 per cent record as coach now! Hopefully it will be the record for my whole life because Rafa will return soon, and if that is the case I am very happy with that.'
A bullet header from Newcaslte's captain Jamaal Lascelles secured the three points in the end
Disappointed Swansea manager Paul Clement admitted: 'I am baffled and frustrated by our performance. This is a missed opportunity.
'Although the margin of the defeat is small I'm disappointed with our performance. We were second best in combats, duels, first and second balls, tactics, in all aspects.'
New boy Renato Sanches, on loan from Bayern Munich, had a quiet debut. Clement said: 'I saw some good things, but he is a player who will get better the more he gets to know us and the culture of the club.'
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