In a good old Saturday 3pm kick off, Fulham hosted Newcastle at Craven Cottage.
Eddie Howe picked a baffling side with a start for Jacob Murphy over Ryan Fraser or Elliot Anderson and Dan Burn at left-back over Matt Targett. There was head-scratching all-round when the team was announced, and we will never actually know if Eddie was right given how events unfolded.
In the 8th minute of the game, Fulham were down to 10 men after a VAR review of a nasty-looking challenge from Nathaniel Chalobah on Sean Longstaff was adjudged to have been dangerous play. From that moment on it was all Newcastle for the remainder of the first half.
Newcastle dominated the possession and found themselves in the lead on 11 minutes as Callum Wilson poached a goal on the line marking his return from injury in traditional fashion.
The possession stayed with Newcastle and all of the action was in the Fulham half as the Magpies kept pressing and then on 33 minutes we were witness to a moment of pure South American magic as Brazilian Bruno Guimaraes dinked a teasing ball over the back line and Paraguayan Miggy Almiron watched the ball down and hit a sweet, sweet left-foot volley across the face of goal and into the far corner. (I realise pointing out that it was a left-footed effort is redundant as Miggy’s right foot is purely for show).
As the half neared its conclusion a corner was floated across to Sven Botman who directed a header goalward only for Bernd Leno to get the slightest of touches, knocking the effort onto the post where Sean Longstaff was at hand to drive in the rebound for Newcastle’s third goal on 43 minutes.
It was a bad first half for the former magpies as Aleksandar Mitrovic succumbed to the injury he was carrying and was replaced on 37, meanwhile, Jacob Murphy justified his place in the starting line up having former Magpie Kevin Mbabu on toast for the entire first half resulting in him being hooked at the end of the half as the Fulham team fell apart like wet cake with debutant Kurzawa replaced through injury.
Newcastle headed into the tunnel at half time 3-0 up with Fulham failing to register a single attempt at goal.
The second half was a different story for Fulham as they saw more of the ball and looked less rattled, however, that didn’t stop Eddie’s rampant Mags for long. as Miguel Almiron got himself on the scoresheet again with a simple tap-in following a Joe Willock cross.
Newcastle dropped down a gear after the fourth goal and opted to just try and control the game rather than going all-out to embarrass Fulham as they played a neat passing game around the midfield. Almiron did have the ball in the back of the net again on 69 minutes after being played in by substitute Elliot Anderson, but the Paraguayan was rightly flagged offside.
The travelling Geordies were in good voice all afternoon and while Newcastle played their low-tempo passing game, the fans entertained themselves with some hits of yesteryear, singing about Bobby Robson, Peter Lovenkrands, Andy Cole and Fabricio Coloccini.
Who Was Your MOTM Against Fulham?
Miggy
Murphy
Trippier
Wilson
Other
On 83 minutes Eddie Howe made a triple substitution bringing off Burn, Schar and Trippier and replacing them with Lewis, Lascelles and Targett which proved to be a costly mistake as all three were at fault for Fulham’s 88th minute consolation goal. Targett, who was playing at right-back was beaten on the touchline out of position leaving Lascelles to come over and cover, he failed to prevent the cross and Decordova-Reid was there to head home ahead of the stranded Lewis.
Newcastle weren’t done, however with Jacob Murphy playing in Ryan Fraser who dinked the ball over the oncoming Leno and into the net, but like Miggy before him, fell victim to the offside flag.
It was a brilliant game to watch, and so good to see Newcastle absolutely dominating a game, even if it was against 10-men for 80 minutes. Everyone played outstanding up until the triple substitution, and there were many contenders for Man Of The Match with Trippier and Guimaraes controlling the game, Wilson bagging a goal on his return, Murphy making myself and many other fans eat their words and even Longstaff having a good game, but I have to go with Miggy Almiron. Two goals and narrowly missing out on a hat-trick and that of course, on top of his usual energetic display.
We have to now kick on from here, a comprehensive win away from home should give us the confidence to kick on and start picking up more wins.
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