It is nonsense to say Newcastle fans would rather lose 5-4 than won 1-0

There is a myth about Newcastle fans that they would rather lose 5-4 than win 1-0.

It was a fiction repeated by Richard Keys on Sunday afternoon, the former Sky Sports presenter claiming that Sam Allardyce would have been ‘hammered’ if he set up his Newcastle side with five at the back, just as Rafa Benitez had done for the visit of Chelsea.

Keys, by way of context, is currently involved in a daily dispute with the Toon Army over his defence of owner Mike Ashley, and it is perhaps the case that he was deliberately trying to antagonise.

Either way, the notion has long since existed that to defend from the off against a team of superior quality is not the Newcastle way.

In short, it is nonsense. There is not a fanbase in the land who would rather lose a match in style than win it ugly.

Think back to last season and the narrow one-goal victories over Manchester United and Arsenal when, on both occasions, Newcastle ceded possession to their visitors.

Benitez is a pragmatist and plays to the strengths - and weaknesses - of his side. He did not return a 10th-placed finish last season by sending his team on the offensive every week.

It is about using what he has to get the best for the football club, and supporters accept as much.

Allardyce’s problem was that, during his unhappy spell in charge of Newcastle 11 years ago, he was setting up that way with far better players than the ones currently at Benitez’s disposal.

As it was, Benitez’s side came within five minutes of a point against a Chelsea side who had scored six times in their opening two matches.

Followers of Huddersfield - soundly beaten 3-0 on the opening day - would no doubt wish they had stayed in the contest for as long.

And this was, it must be said, very different to the tactics employed by the Magpies against Manchester City last season.

On that occasion Benitez put 10 men behind the ball and showed no ambition to attack until the final 15 minutes, when they came very close to nicking a point as they trailed 1-0.

So while there will be criticism from elsewhere, it is important to remember that the game-plan against Chelsea - and City - very nearly worked. There was, for instance, no dissent from the terraces on full-time.

They trust Benitez in these parts, just as they mistrust anything from the mouth of Keys.