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Season 2024-25
Fulham (a) Premier League

 


Date:
Saturday 21st September 2024, 3pm
(No live UK TV)


Venue:
Craven Cottage

Conditions: Inevitable

Programme: £4
 

Fulham

Newcastle

 

3 - 1


 

Teams

Goals

5 mins Adama Traore sent over an inswinging left-footed cross from the right side of the field to Raul Jimenez almost on the penalty spot, with Fabian Schar lurking behind him. The Mexican international was able to control it on his chest and turn before hitting a low first-time right-footed shot to the left of the diving Nick Pope in the Putney End goal. 0-1

22 mins Traore strode over halfway in possession before finding the overlapping Emile Smith Rowe. He knocked it on to Iwobi on to his left and continued his run into the box. 

From a similar move between the two players moments earlier, Smith Rowe had pinged a shot off the crossbar - this time his low flicked effort from closer in was less powerful, but Pope could only palm it to his left and inside his post.
0-2

Half time: Cottagers 2 Magpies 0

46 mins Newly-arrived substitute Jacob Murphy beat Antonee Robinson to the ball inside the Newcastle half and pushed the ball to Alexander Isak, who arrived back on halfway to provide a touch that took Joachim Andersen out of the equation.

Murphy raced into the gap between Calvin Bassey and Kenny Tete, arcing a pass out to Harvey Barnes who took a touch with his left foot before rifling a low effort with his right into the net, nutmegging Tete in the process. Less flashy than the Wolves goal, but equally well-executed.


There was no time for any arrow celebrations this week; he and Murphy contenting themselves with raised fists as they headed back for the restart. Murphy had grabbed the ball as it bounced out of the net and threw it into the centre circle to try and hurry proceedings along.

A VAR call did delay the kick-off however, establishing that Isak remained onside at the outset.
1-2

90+2 mins Forced back into the vicinity of the corner flag on the Newcastle left, Bruno Guimaraes tried to play a ball back across his own box that school children would have been admonished for. 

His intended target was Schar, but the Magpies captain succeeded only in whacking it off the back of Jimenez - the ball falling into the path of the unattended Reiss Nelson, who had time to compose himself before planting it into the net from around 12 yards out. 
1-3

Full time: 
Cottagers 3 Magpies 1

We Said

 

Eddie Howe said:

"It was a slow start and the first goal was a killer blow for us. I thought in the first half we were too reactive. 

"We conceded a really poor first goal and whenever you go away from home and you give the opposition help and a stimulus, the crowd get in the game and the first half was really hard for us.

"Today was the worst we’ve played this season, especially first half. The other games have not been perfect but we’ve been really solid and resilient. 

"I anticipated a strong performance today, but it was not there. Second half we chased the game effectively until the end but we need to reflect on it and analyse it.

"Games swing on big moments. The character and attitude was better in that second period but we have to learn our lessons from the first half.

"Every game is different and we’re trying to pick the team that we feel gives us the best chance to win the game today.

"Harvey Barnes definitely deserves to start and I was happy with the team. The players that started the game were part of our comeback against Wolves and I was anticipating a really good performance but it wasn’t there. It’s really disappointing.

"Joe
(Willock) did so well against Wolves and I felt it was right to reward him with a start but then you see the game and I question whether that was the right decision from myself so I’ll take responsibility for that.

"Joe is just back from injury and done very well to come back, he’s such a big player for us and I was keen to see him play but it was a tough one for him and the team.

"I thought we were better in the second half so there is a degree that the substitutions helped us at that stage, maybe not the latter ones where I thought our performance tailed off in the second period.

"I thought Lewis Hall did really well and Jacob (Murphy) of course set up the goal. There was a much better feel about the group in the second half. Fabian's (Schar) chance is probably a key moment in the match. It could have been different for us but it wasn’t to be.

"You analyse everybody fairly and independently; there are no big stars with the group. We all take accountability, there isn't one individual we are looking at. We have got work to do."

They Said

Marco Silva said:

"A well deserved three points, clearly, in my opinion. Great work from the lads, and a great reaction from ourselves.

"I don’t like the word ‘unlucky,’ but we were not really fortunate in the last games against Preston and West Ham, but what a reaction from ourselves, the way we did it first half was almost brilliant.

"Very good first half from us, the way we started, the way we played, the way we were dominant during the game, the way we created chances. We scored twice, we should have scored more first half.

"Newcastle had one chance before our goal, it’s true, but apart from that – nothing. We were always in a good position, well organised as well, and gave nothing for them.

"A very good performance, the way we were able to create chances from one side to the other. We know they like to press high but we didn’t really give them chances to press our team high, because we built our attacks really well.

"Clearly it was a good result for us, but of course when they have a fast start in the second half, after 30 seconds we conceded a goal, it probably got in the mind of the players the last minute against West Ham.

"We took a little bit of time to reorganise, to set ourselves up again. They controlled the game, on the ball, that is true, second half.

"We didn’t have as much possession as we like to have, but the reality is that apart from one moment on the counter-attack with (Anthony) Gordon they didn’t really create anything during that period.

"We had two chances to score with Alex Iwobi – when he had just the goalkeeper in front of him, and another at the far post on the right hand side. After, Rodrigo had another chance, too.

"In the last 10 minutes I changed the formation and I think we killed the game completely. 

"There was nothing more from them and we were able to score the 3-1. Great win, great work from the boys. I am really pleased for the reaction from ourselves, and the good thing is that we won in our way – that first half clearly showed the way we want to play, and the way we are working with the players to gel everything in the right direction that we want."

Stats


Newcastle's five game unbeaten Premier League run ended with a first defeat since a 2-3 defeat by Manchester United at Old Trafford in May 2024.

William Osula became the 269th different player to appear for Newcastle in the Premier League and the third born in Denmark, following Jon Dahl Tomasson and Peter Lovenkrands.

A third PL goal in three games for Harvey Barnes was his eighth in that competition as a Magpie, matching Philippe Albert, Ciaran Clark, Lee Clark, Duncan Ferguson,Temuri Ketsbaia and Matt Ritchie.

That Barnes goal was timed at 28 seconds after the half started, quicker than Alexander Isak's FA Cup strike 30 seconds into the second half at the mackems in January 2024 but less rapid than Callum Wilson's 25 second effort in the Premier League at West Ham back in April 2023.

Fulham defeated Newcastle in the PL for the first time in ten attempts, since a single goal success in SW6 back in March 2014. Current Blyth Spartans manager David Stockdale kept a clean sheet for Fulham that day, while current Magpie Dan Burn was a late substitute for the hosts.

Magpies @ Fulham - PL era:

2024/25 Lost 1-3 Barnes
2023/24
Won 1-0 Guimaraes
2023/24 Won 2-0 Longstaff, Burn (FAC)
2022/23 Won 4-1 Wilson, Almiron 2, S.Longstaff
2020/21 Won 2-0 Willock, Schar (pen)
2018/19 Won 4-0 Shelvey, Perez, Schar, Rondon
2016/17 Lost 0-1 (Ch)
2013/14 Lost 0-1
2012/13 Lost 1-2 Ben Arfa
2011/12 Lost 2-5 Guthrie, Ben Arfa
2010/11 Lost 0-1
2008/09 Lost 1-2 Ameobi
2007/08 Won 1-0 Barton (pen)
2006/07 Lost 1-2 Martins
2005/06 Lost 0-1
2004/05 Won 3-1 Ambrose, Kluivert, Ameobi
2003/04 Won 3-2 Robert, Shearer 2*
2002/03 Lost 1-2 Shearer*
2001/02 Lost 1-3 Speed

(At Craven Cottage except *Loftus Road)


 

Waffle

On a day when victory would have seen them top the Premier League table at least fleetingly, Newcastle instead dropped from third to sixth as their unbeaten start to the season finally came to an end.

A manic opening to the game saw Joelinton's fourth minute shot ruled out for offside; confirmation of that VAR decision appearing on the scoreboard just as Raul Jimenez turned in the box and fired the Cottagers ahead - United now conceding the first goal in all three away league games so far.

The hosts came close to doubling their lead almost immediately when Emile Smith Rowe shot against the crossbar, but the threatened second goal soon arrived from the boot of the Arsenal old boy - Nick Pope getting a hand on the effort but only helping it into the net.

Trailing 0-2 at the break and grateful not to be further behind, United raised hopes of a revival by reducing the deficit within 30 seconds - newly-arrived substitute Jacob Murphy breaking upfield and Harvey Barnes supplying a low finish that VAR belatedly allowed.

That was as good as it got though for a Magpies side who had arrived in search of an improbable sixth successive win on this ground in all competitions.

A disappointing afternoon for birthday boy Alexander Isak saw his one decent sight of goal blocked by a defender, while Anthony Gordon's contribution met with a mixed reception from the away support when he made way for debutant William Osula late on.

The best chance of an equaliser fell to Fabian Schar on 71 minutes after a defensive mishap, but he somehow contrived to fire into the side netting from close range with Isak unmarked infield. It didn't look great from behind the goal but replays confirmed the magnitude of the miss.

Any hopes of scraping a draw were then scuppered by Bruno's suicidal pass across his own box in added time, Reiss Nelson accepting the gift to seal Fulham's first victory over Newcastle in ten attempts since 2017.

Although there was another welcome second half revival, this was a reality check for a Magpies side who once again lacked fluidity in the opening 45 minutes. 

At the sixth time of asking this season, they simply left themselves too much to do and were rightly punished - Howe admitting that his initial selection was flawed and the half time reshuffle less beneficial than at Wolves. 

The much-maligned Sean Longstaff can reflect on one game when he wasn't blamed for our situation, although opinion remains divided whether he or Sandro Tonali would have been of great value in plugging the midfield gap. Our misgivings about Bruno's possession of the armband also continue. 

On this evidence at least, we are a mid-table side that have no business being at or near the top of the league.

Biffa