United Manager Chris Hughton said:

"It has been an up-and-down week. We started with a fantastic win at Arsenal, then a very disappointing result in the week and now this – but at least we didn’t lose. We have to keep hold of that feeling.

"I’m disappointed. It’s not a bad point, but I felt if any side was going to go on and get the win it was going to be us. We’re just lacking that little bit in front of goal at the minute. You sometimes get to that stage in a game where perhaps that fear of losing the game – and we were caught out on Wednesday – becomes greater than playing expansively and going for the win.

"Up against a very well-organised team with a lot of energy, I felt that we were the team that deserved to win. I felt before the game that Fulham are a good side. I knew it would be a tight game because most of their games are.

"I didn’t think it would be a game with a lot of chances, but of course, what you hope is you put away the better chances that come your way.

"Our home form has been a bit indifferent. It is something we need to address. Would we prefer to get more points at home? Of course we would. But we’re playing in a much tougher league, teams are coming to us and playing that bit deeper.

"They are playing formations that need to be broken down and on those occasions we need to show that little bit more in the final third. On occasions we haven’t been able to do that, but we’ve also shown we’re a side that keeps going right through to the end.

"Results are one thing and performances are another. I don’t think any supporters will have gone away thinking we didn’t try and win the game.

"It’s fair to say Peter (Lovenkrands) was a little bit rusty. He is a player that hasn’t played too much first-team football recently. He did have some opportunities, but perhaps if you haven’t played the games there is always going to be that rustiness. And it’s probably the same with Danny Guthrie. It’s just about getting them up to speed.”

Mark Hughes commented:

"We’re pleased with what we produced today and it was important that we went to St James’ Park and played positively. Certainly in the first-half, we took the game to Newcastle and caused them problems. We didn’t want to be dictated and I think we stuck to the task. St James’ Park is a difficult place to come – it always has been.

"We expected the response we saw from them in the second-half. They put a lot of balls into our box, but we stood up to that challenge – which was pleasing. We very much view this as a very professional away performance.

"Our two centre-halves were excellent today - I thought they matched the physical presence of Andy Carroll, and Brede’s match-up with him was particularly interesting. Carroll has been playing very well lately, and as we know, he’s a handful. But Brede and Aaron are a really strong pairing and looked comfortable. I know Brede gets more of the headlines, but he very much appreciates the job that Aaron does alongside him.

"Defensively we looked really strong today, in fact, we looked rock solid. We made a few changes, but what we saw was a lot of energy and willingness throughout.”

While much hype and hyperbole was focused on the Haye/Harrison matchup in Manchester, another less-heralded heavyweight contest took place on Saturday at SJP. Lasting rather longer than the title bout, England (aka Andy Carroll) v Hangeland slugged it out for ninety minutes before a draw was arrived at.

Having quite literally headed his way into Fabio Capello's thoughts recently, The Newcastle striker found his pathway to goal blocked by the formidable figure of Fulham's Norwegian centre half in this game - who in his khaki fatigues looked like an extra from a war film. And although Carroll did win some balls in the air, he faced as stern a physical test as he's had this season, his three main efforts on goal all coming via a boot. 

Of course, denying Andy aerial opportunities doesn't render him impotent - just ask Aston Villa, who conceded a hat trick of shots to him here earlier this season. But it begs the question had that Arsene Wenger invested the rumoured king's ransom on Fulham's enormous centre half whether United's number nine wouldn't have been left alone to wreak havoc in North London last weekend.

Regardless of the result, Chris Hughton's line about "knowing there would be ups and downs this season" has become something of a constant refrain in recent weeks. And this game could certainly be counted as one for the ascendants - Fulham having drawn four of their six previous league away games (although they remain winless on the road in 25 attempts).

After all, United took no points from their meetings with Fulham two seasons ago and the visitors spurned the best chance, when a second half shot from Moussa Dembele rebounded off Krul's crossbar. That was of little solace though as a 40K+ crowd trudged away from SJP for the second time in four days, having seen very little to lift their spirits. 

Aside from Mark Schwarzer keeping Carroll at bay, there wasn't a great deal on show - with the absence of Barton keenly felt. He may have survived a meeting with Lee Clattermole this time round, but after showing the sort of form that would have kept us up had it come in 2009, Joey reverted to the buffoonery last seen at Anfield in May 2009 - although he was verging on the daft in recent Arsenal League Cup loss.

In fairness, some of my disappointment was that Barton hadn't clattered Pedersen properly - a player who of course is no slouch with his hands, using one of them to knock in Blackburn's winner in here four years ago.  

Danny Guthrie did briefly threaten to take the game by the scruff of the neck early in the second half but faded, while we'd hoped that Gutierrez would step up to the (River) plate for this one. However he proved as superfluous as his headband for the most part - save for one magical shimmy over halfway and a sublime pass out to the right flank in the second half, from where Guthrie crossed for Lovenkrands to head at Schwarzer.

The seemingly inevitable entry into the referee's notebook of Tiote (booked for the fourth successive game) meanwhile means that United's midfield options are increasingly limited for the upcoming visit to Bolton. About Kevin Nolan we're unsure of what to say - other than noting that he's stopped doing his Gazza-esque face pulling trick at the opposing 'keeper when we get a free kick. 

Khaki-clad Fulham were as miserable as their manager, with Andy Johnson leading their attack and doing his best to get some reaction from the crowd by his diving antics and general frustration at everything and everyone in his vicinity.

By the way, that Fulham's new third strip resembled an army blanket on Remembrance Sunday weekend was purely coincidental, later investigation confirming that it's modelled on the colours of Harrods (the Fulham owner remains honorary Chairman of the store, despite selling it to the Qatari royal family earlier this year).

Keeping with the military theme, deserter Damien Duff was booed in a fairly half-hearted way (suitably matching his performance) while Aaron Hughes would have doubtless received some applause, had he done anything to draw attention to himself. That's not an insult by the way, just a reflection of the calm manner in which he does his work. It's one of the biggest crimes of recent years that he still doesn't play for us.

Another home disappointment then, with the consequence that we need to keep pulling rabbits out of hats on our travels to keep out of trouble. That seems less and less likely though, as the exertions of the season begin to take their toll and the shortcomings of the squad are highlighted accordingly.

In this slightly bonkers season though, the prospect of trying to wrest points from our next trio of opponents here - Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City - seems no harder or easier than to do it against the mackems, Blackburn or Fulham. And if nothing else, the presence of those "big three" at SJP might bring a sense of occasion to the games and add to the atmosphere, which was patchy at best today.

Biffa 

PS: Special mention for NUFC.com reader Petri Makalainen and his family from Savonlinna in Finland, who made a marathon trek to Tyneside for this game.