Newcastle 1 Swansea 1: Rafa Benitez in desperate need of reinforcements as Magpies remain at risk

There is always a scramble for positives once the initial crushing wave of disappointment has subsided after Newcastle United drop points at home, but the only encouraging thing for manager Rafa Benitez was that his side would have lost this game last year.

It is progress, of sorts, but there is no question this was a match Newcastle needed to win to move clear of relegation danger – they would have moved up to 11^th with three points rather than one – and failed.

They are a hardworking, well organised side, but they lack a proven goalscorer at this level and without that clinical edge they are always likely to rue missed opportunities.

It is something Benitez is desperate to change, but once again his pleas are being ignored. The club’s owner, Mike Ashley, is back from holiday, but he remains an absentee landlord who is infuriatingly disinterested.

Ashley is a man who seems determined to gamble, even when he knows the odds are stacked in favour of those who strengthen their squad this month.

The billionaire is supposedly more interested in selling the club than giving Benitez money to spend, but even those attempts are starting to appear half-hearted as the negotiations with Amanda Staveley remain deadlocked over the asking price.

Benitez was maybe trying to send a message when he picked a starting XI that was identical to the one that won promotion from the Championship last season, but such subtleties are likely to be lost on Ashley, who had two of his lieutenants, Justin Barnes and Keith Bishop, in the director’s box alongside managing director Lee Charnley.

“I think they already know [we need more players],” said Benitez. “We have been very clear, and I think they understand the situation. Now, it is just a case of doing what we have to do.”

Nobody is certain that they do understand, though, and Ashley’s cronies will report back that the Magpies created six good chances in the first 45 minutes and did not take any of them. Swansea were completely overrun but clung on.

Dwight Gaye failed to convert two free headers from just outside the six-yard box. Ayoze Perez stabbed a shot too close to the goalkeeper when he only had Fabianski to beat and Paul Dummett lashed a shot over after he had been picked out at the near post. When Gayle, who also missed a decent chance at the start of the second half, did finally get the ball into the net, he had strayed offside.

Swansea created virtually nothing, but should have had a penalty when Mo Diame blocked a shot with his elbow.

“I’m absolutely sure that if we had a video referee it would have been a red card and a penalty if we had a video referee at this game,” said Swansea manager Carlos Carvalhal. “I don’t know if we have won a point or lost two, but my players were really upset in the dressing room because they thought they should have won.”

A draw was probably fair as Swansea grew into the game after the break and scored through Jordan Ayew’s header – at the second attempt – from a brilliant cross by Mike van der Hoorn. It was the first clear chance the visitors had created but they took it.

It was a crushing blow, but at least Newcastle recovered enough to salvage a point when Joselu squeezed a shot inside the post from a tight angle.

“I liked the team in the first half, and the chances that we created,” added Benitez. “I was disappointed because we didn’t take the chances, and also to concede a goal in the way that we conceded the goal.

“But I was quite happy with the reaction of the team. We were very positive, and had a real intensity and determination to try to score. We were trying to win the game, it could be worse.”