Jamie Redknapp explains Newcastle frustration; lauds Ayoze Perez

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Newcastle United produced a stunning comeback to win their latest Premier League clash.

Jamie Redknapp has told the Daily Mail that Newcastle’s recent run of form at St James’ Park only makes their display against Chelsea earlier in the campaign all the more frustrating – while the pundit also singled out Ayoze Perez for praise.

On a day where several of the sides lower down the table managed to bag important wins, Rafa Benitez’s men managed to keep the chasing pack at bay, but only after a stunning turnaround against Everton.

The Toffees took a 2-0 lead inside the first-half. And with Newcastle having a penalty saved moments before the second goal, it appeared that it was going to be a nightmare day for the Magpies where nothing would go right.

But after the break, Newcastle turned the game on its head, with Perez scoring twice and Rondon bagging his eighth league goal of the campaign to secure the three points in sensational fashion.

Redknapp lauded Newcastle for their recent results and Perez’s performance. But he added that their recent form made the side’s negative display against Chelsea back in August – Newcastle had just 19 percent of possession in the 2-1 defeat (via BBC Sport) – more difficult to get the head around.

“Newcastle showed incredible character to battle back to beat Everton. They have been a joy to watch recently and in Ayoze Perez have a silky, clever forward who holds the ball up well,” he told the Daily Mail.

“They have won their last five games at St James’ — which makes it even more frustrating that they set up so negatively against Chelsea there earlier in the season. On their day, they can take the fight to anyone.”

This looks set to be the second campaign in a row where Newcastle have gone into the second-half of the season looking set to face a battle to stay in the division, only to produce a brilliant run of form that eases their relegation concerns long before the end of the year.

And with just three of their remaining eight games seeing Benitez’s men face top-half sides, there is perhaps an outside chance that Newcastle could go on and improve upon last term’s 10th place finish.