Fulham were dealt a late blow on Tyneside, as Aleksander Isak’s tap-in at the death gave Newcastle all three points after a plucky performance to be proud of from our men.
Aleksandar Mitrović’s unfortunately-timed slip meant a penalty chance wasn’t taken, but overall it was an even contest in the toughest of places to go.
After four league wins on the spin there were a trio of changes deployed by Marco Silva. Mitrović came back in following his one-match suspension, as well as Layvin Kurzawa who was replacing Antonee Robinson, who was serving his ban after picking up a fifth yellow last time out. Issa Diop was rotated back in for Tosin for the other swap.
In a cauldron of noise at St James’ Park both teams got off to an encouraging start. Willian and Kenny Tete were probing Newcastle down the right, whilst the host managed the first shot of the game after two and a half minutes through Joe Willock, but it went well wide in the end.
After 5 minutes came the first real chance of note. Bruno Guimaraes slotted through a neat ball to Sean Longstaff who was primed to shoot, but in came Diop to quash the danger brilliantly.
Fulham bit back spurred on by the sold-out away following who were making themselves heard up in the gods. Andreas Pereira found Mitrović with a whipped cross from the left, and after his shot was blocked it came to Tete, who could only guide his strike over with his left.
Callum Wilson had an effort on goal after 20 minutes gone, but again Diop was there to get himself in the way and divert the threat.
Fulham kept pushing and were more than a match for the team placed fourth in the table. Willian and Harrison Reed did well to carve out a chance down the left and switch it cleverly to bring in De Cordova-Reid and Pereira, but in the end we were shepherded out
Wilson was looking lively and managed another effort after spinning smartly, but Bernd Leno was up to the task and got a firm hand to it.
The striker had his tail up now and had a golden opportunity to put Eddie Howe’s side 1-0 up before the break. Touching it down on the swivel he broke free in the box and got a shot away, but again Leno was there to catch.
Newcastle introduced Allan Saint-Maximin at the interval and he did inject some pace down the left, but Tete was equal to it as he went full pelt at our defence.
The Magpies were knocking on the door now and hit the post from a set-piece with an hour gone. After Tim Ream collected a booking for a foul on the edge of the box, Fabian Schar collected the ball to take and sent one crashing into the upright.
Fulham had two penalty appeals in a space of seconds next. After De Cordova-Reid broke away, he and Pereira were both taken out in a scrappy segment of the game. Play continued until eventually the referee was able to consult with VAR, who overturned the decision and confirmed a penalty to Fulham. Mitrović stepped up to take and did put it home, but after a slight slip the ball struck his left boot after his right, and a free kick was given the other way.
The game was frantic now and feisty too. After some solid Fulham possession, Newcastle sped away on the counterattack and eventually found Saint-Maximin on the edge of the area. He jinked away from his marker and got an effort away which flew wide of Leno’s post.
There was to be a cruel twist in the tale late on as Newcastle snatched the three points with a minute left on the clock. Wilson popped the ball back across goal after latching on the end of a cross, and Isak was there to head into an empty net.
It was tough to take in the end after a performance to be proud of from Fulham, but we can hold our heads up high and go again after finally getting a chance to get some rest in before our next one.
