Newcastle United's Under 23s reached the Premier League 2 Second Division play-off final on Monday evening, following an impromptu visit from Rafa Bentiez.
The Magpies boss paid a visit to the dressing room ahead of the 2-0 victory over Fulham at St James' Park and Peter Beardsley revealed it had a huge impact on his young side.
Having clinched the Championship title on Sunday to send Newcastle back up to the Premier League, Benitez buoyed the team and Beardsley believe his players were trying extra hard to impress the Spaniard.
'I thought the first 20 minutes were unbelievable – we were really, really good and could have had two or three goals then,' Beardsley told nufc.