1 February 2025
Newcastle 1 Fulham 2
Newcastle welcomed Fulham to St James’ Park, looking to put memories of their hiding against Bournemouth to rest from their previous home match. The Magpies are hoping to challenge for the top four this season and that coveted Champions League qualification but Eddie Howe knows that in order to do that, he his side need to show some consistency.
The hosts started in positive fashion, passing the ball around and utilising the big pitch. Schar exchanged a neat one-two with Joelinton on the edge of the box as the centre-back rushed into the penalty area. He managed to get a shot away but Leno closed him down to make an important block to keep the visitors on level terms.
Isak was trying to make things happen for The Magpies as he lifted a cross into the box but it was headed clear by The Cottagers. As the ball broke to Tonali outside the box, the Italian thundered a half-volley towards goal, only to see it come crashing back off the crossbar. Had it gone in, it would have been a definite goal of the month contender.
Marco Silva’s side were camped out in their own half, struggling to deal with the onslaught from the hosts. Gordon then spun away from his marker and made a beeline towards the Fulham goal. The winger squared the ball, looking for Isak, but the pass was behind him. The visitors were looking all over the shop defensively at this point.
As Gordon’s cross ran to the back post, an unmarked Murphy drilled it home to give Newcastle a deserved lead. St James’ Park erupted as they finally broke the deadlock, expecting to see a deluge of goals. The only real surprise amongst the home fans was that somebody other than Isak had scored the opener as the noise of collective betting slips being torn up echoed around the ground.
The Magpies had the chance to double their lead when Livramento strode into the box. The full-back looked to drive his effort into the far corner but Leno did well to save with an outstretched leg. Howe’s side had dominated the first-half but only had a single goal to show for their endeavours as both teams headed in at the break.
Whatever Silva said to his players in the interval seemed to work. Smith Rowe burst through the middle with the Newcastle players unable to get anywhere near him. He got a shot away from the edge of the box but Dubravka got down well to make the save. Traore collected the loose ball in a wide position but The Magpies were able to clear their lines.
Robinson opted for a more direct approach from his own half as his pinpoint ball picked out Jimenez on the edge of the box. The Mexican took it well on his chest and looked to tuck his shot in the far corner but a slight deflection from Burn took it agonisingly wide of the target. Fulham were starting to ask questions of the Newcastle defence in this second-half.
A lazy pass from Tonali was intercepted by Jimenez in his own half. Some slick passing play from The Cottagers saw them transition from defence into attack in an instant. Before The Magpies knew it, the Mexican opened his body up to slot past Dubravka and draw the visitors level. St James’ Park fell silent apart from the travelling fans up in the nosebleeds.
This was not what the Geordie fans were used to seeing at home. This was a venue that sides never looked forward to visiting but Fulham were rewriting the script here. The hosts should have retaken the lead when Isak crossed into the box but as Willock looked to score at the near post, he completely missed the ball.
Willock then turned provider as he played the ball to Isak wide in the box. Such is the confidence of the striker right now, he took one touch to steady himself, before looking to bend a shot into the top corner. Sadly for the Swede and Newcastle faithful, his effort struck the crossbar and came back out into play. So close to giving The Magpies the lead once again.
Murphy was penalised for a foul out wide, giving the visitors the chance to load the Newcastle penalty area. Pereira whipped his free kick into the box and it was flicked on at the near post by Muniz, giving Dubravka no time whatsoever to react. The Cottagers had stunned the hosts with little time remaining in the game.
Marco Silva’s side held on for all three points to send the Newcastle fans home with a bitter taste in their mouths. What used to be a fortress for Newcastle was starting to look a very easy place to come and get points. The defeat puts a big dent in The Magpies’ hopes of chasing down those European places leaving them in sixth place in the table.
Fulham moved into the top half of the table and showed what Marco Silva’s side are capable of when they put their minds to it. It was a surprisingly quiet day for Newcastle’s talisman Isak which will have infuriated fantasy league managers up and down the country. Despite having the financial backing of the Saudi state, The Magpies are struggling to give the fans the success they are craving.
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