NEWCASTLE United boss Rafael Benitez credited Blackburn Rovers’ performance, as well as his criticising his side's display, as the visitors left St James’ Park victorious.

Benitez’s side were going in search of a club record 10th consecutive win, but fell to defeat as Charlie Mulgrew’s goal proved decisive as his strike, 15 minutes from time, saw Rovers leave 1-0 winners.

Benitez made six changes ahead of the game, but felt that wasn’t behind his side’s defeat which ended their impressive run of form.

“It was very disappointing because I didn’t like the way we started the game,” he told the Newcastle Chronicle.

“And I didn’t like the way the game was being stopped all of the time with free-kicks and corners without giving us the advantage. I didn’t like our reaction when we were losing.

“We must do better. I didn’t like the chances we didn’t take.

“That’s what happens, we must look to the next game and make sure we don’t make the same mistakes.

“I know that when you lose a game and change some players they will blame the manager.

“But at the same time the way the game was going on we have to manage better and show some personality and then control the game in the way we have previously.

“If you don’t perform at the level you have to perform you have to give credit to the opposition.

“But they had too many things in favour and it wasn’t the same for us.

“I don’t want to make excuses, we were poor with a lot of things and we didn’t take our chances when we had them.

“We allowed them to play the way they wanted to play.”