Previously reliable Dubravka is becoming something of a headache for Benitez

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Rafa Benitez expressed his thoughts that Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka could have done better for Willy Boly’s equalising goal which secured a 1-1 draw for Wolves last night at Molineux, as per Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football, 10:00pm, 11 February.

A furious Benitez said: “We had the three points, it was very disappointing to concede the way we conceded. These kind of balls in, you can do a little bit better, just punch the ball and finished.

“We have to defend this better, people will come against the keeper so he has to be stronger.”

It is not the first time that Dubravka has let Newcastle down slightly in recent weeks. He allowed Heung-min Son’s late strike through his grasp against Tottenham last weekend, which meant the Magpies left Wembley with a 1-0 defeat.

Just after Christmas, Dubravka let Marcus Rashford’s free kick get away from him to allow Romelu Lukaku to put Manchester United on the way to a 2-0 victory at St James’ Park, so something of a pattern is emerging.

Dubravka has been brilliant on the whole for Newcastle, but his form over recent weeks has been poor and has directly cost Rafa Benitez’s side some points.

And for a manager who prioritises defensive stability as much as Benitez, that is a real headache going into the business end of the season.