Goals from local lads Sean Longstaff and Dan Burn proved enough to propel the Magpies into the Fifth Round of the FA Cup on Saturday night, as Craven Cottage again proved to be our happy place.

Following a hat-trick of Premier League victories here under three different managers, a first FA Cup success on the banks of the Thames since 1956 meant that United have won back to back ties in this competition without requiring a replay for the first time since 2006.

Alan Shearer led the line then and he was present tonight - in the away end for once rather than a TV studio. He claimed that he'd not been in with the away fans since 1985, although not saying where that was as a 14 or 15 year-old. We did wonder about Roker Park, and whether he'd made a youthful incursion into the Fulwell End - perhaps some things are better left unrecorded.... 

Missing from the current matchday squad were Miguel Almiron (ill) and Jamaal Lascelles (injured), whose absence did nothing to dampen recent speculation about their futures. The belated and successful return of Jacob Murphy did at least boost our shrinking midfield options, feeling his way and trying to keep out of trouble but seemingly resisting one hefty shove on his shoulder.   

Neither side seized the initiative in a formless first half; Newcastle fielding all but one of the side that started their previous game two weeks earlier while Fulham made seven changes from the line-up that drew 1-1 with Liverpool here 72 hours before in the League Cup.

Murphy was unable to beat Marek Rodak after the ball broke to him in the box after just five minutes. Martin Dubravka made a more impressive fingertip save to deny Rodrigo Muniz as the hosts pressed with some success, but did little of note when gaining possession and had nothing up front. 

Almost to the minute that the opener came on wearside in the previous round, United went ahead here - another confidence-boosting goal scored at the right time, upsetting the opposition's plan of keeping us at bay before introducing reinforcements as we tired. 

The visitors then thought that they'd doubled their lead just before half time when Murphy dashed in from the right and supplied an excellent finish, only to be rightfully denied for being offside.

Forced into a change when Harry Wilson was unable to continue, Fulham seldom looked like wiping out the deficit and fell further behind just after the hour as a result of another Newcastle corner.

Burn collected a second goal against his former club in as many games this season from roughly the same range that registered the first against Bernd Leno on Tyneside last month, giving his current side some breathing space and ramping up the party behind the Putney End goal.

Further goals seemed likely as Fulham belatedly tried to get a foothold in the tie, but they wasted a few half-chances to make a game of it and at the other end a series of Newcastle breaks floundered due to lack of care with the final ball. At the heart of those attacks was Tino Livramento, who can count himself unlucky not have made the starting line-up, but the statistics will reflect that Burn scored once and was involved in the other goal.

Given our wretched record in this competition in the last two decades or so, any FA Cup victory is cause for celebration and the level of opposition made it a no-brainer to pick a full strength side here, even if Fulham understandably rotated their players.

Having accepted the justification of playing three times a week for some fatigued displays though, a fortnight's rest seemed to have blunted our competitive edge at times; hopeful passes out of defence and some unwise decision making on the ball.

Hopefully this tie has been a valuable exercise in preparing the side for the rigours of the Premier League during the rest of the season - Aston Villa certainly won't be as accommodating on Tuesday night as Fulham were at times here. 
 
Exactly which players Eddie Howe has at his disposal - never mind who is fit - may not become clear until the day after the Villa game, when the transfer window closes. One senses there are still deals to be done if the price is right and with Bruno's looming two match ban, cover in the central midfield area remains an obvious concern. 

Biffa