Premier League - Fulham halt Newcastle revival

Eurosport - Mon, 10 Nov 07:46:00 2008

Goals by Andrew Johnson and Danny Murphy put an end to Newcastle's recent revival in fortunes as Fulham ran out 2-1 winners at Craven Cottage.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 Premier League Fulham Andrew Johnson - 0

Big money summer signing Johnson netted in the first half only to see Shola Ameobi restore parity for Newcastle soon after the break.

But Murphy's spot kick on 66 minutes proved the difference between the two sides as victory saw Fulham leap out of the bottom three and into 10th place.

Newcastle headed in the game off the back of two victories and had been showing signs of progression under the guidance of new manager Joe Kinnear. But despite a decent performance, defeat in west London saw them drop back in the relegation zone.

Johnson opened the scoring in typically clinical fashion on 23 minutes, taking full advantage of some calamitous defending from Claudio Cacapa, whose attempted headed clearance struck his defensive partner Fabricio Coloccini before falling kindly to the Fulham striker.

Johnson did the rest, firing confidently past Shay Given to register his third goal in a Fulham shirt and put his side into the lead.

Ameobi levelled on 57 minutes, although there was a dose of good fortune to his goal as replays later showed the striker to be in an offside position when the ball fell to him in the penalty area.

But, as all good strikers should, he played to the whistle and made no mistake with his finish from close range.

Parity was to last just nine minutes, Cacapa clipping Johnson in the box to give Murphy the chance to rifle home from the penalty spot.

Newcastle rallied late on, substitute Michael Owen missing a gilt-edged chance with 12 minutes remaining to grab a point for Newcastle, but Fulham held on continue their impressive home form this season, which has now gleaned 13 points from a possible 18.

Fulham enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges, with Given having to be alert from the first whistle to keep the hosts at bay.

The Irishman was brought into action on eight minutes to deny Jimmy Bullard a close range stab at goal before Zoltan Gera's header 10 minutes later forced a smart stop out of him.

In between those chances, Murphy saw a first time shot from outside the area fly just wide of the post and Gera had gone wide with a towering far post header.

But Newcastle had chances of their own to trouble the scorekeepers, Obafemi Martins proving a constant threat with his pace and power. The Nigerian saw two well-struck efforts go narrowly adrift of the target before Damien Duff hit the outside of an upright with a crisp strike just before the break.

Ameobi's strike ignited the Magpies and they could easily have gone ahead moments later, Joey Barton unleashing a 25-yarder that Mark Schwarzer had to be at his best to keep out.

Newcastle appeared to have Fulham where they wanted them, only for the penalty decision - which came against the run of play - to have a decisive impact on the match.

Owen was made to rue his late missed chance - when his miscued volley from six yards out actually ended up going away from goal - as Fulham held on for all three points to rocket up what is increasingly becoming a congested mid-table.

Mike Hytner / Eurosport

Comment 2 - 21 of 21

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  1. Why would anyone want to buy a guy who is only regarded­ as good enough to be sub for Newcastle ? There is a­ reason he is substitute, a reason Capello doesnt pick­ him, a reason Madrid let him go, a reason Liverpool­ didnt buy him back. He's not what he was, which was­ a top class striker. He no longer justifies a spot in a­ major side, on major wages.

    From chris, on Tue 11 Nov 11:36AM

  2. well well we doing better this year, no more @#$%­ americain players, just one idiot

    only but i hope not­ for too long ,dumspy go play baseball or americain­ football

    From nantemaville1976, on Tue 11 Nov 12:15AM

  3. u lost newcastle so just take it on the chin it was a­ pen and yes there was a clash of players just b4 it but­ it wasnt a foul . and why u not shouting about ur­ offside goal lol oh yeah thats ok to get that hahaha­ and as for king kev forget him he always quits when­ things not going his way . get shearer and u will be a­ good club and probably a great club again come on u­ whites fulham forever

    From ffctel, on Mon 10 Nov 3:46PM

  4. God punish you sappercomand0 25!

    From adewunmi, on Mon 10 Nov 2:29PM

  5. only need a point a game to stay up.no worries.capaca­ was always going to give fulham a goal at some­ point.the guys another nightmare with no confidence ala­ boumsong and marcellino.viduka has his critics but­ great target man need him back soon.played our best­ footie last season when milner got injured and kevin­ played owen martins viduka together.

    From paul.connor15, on Mon 10 Nov 11:33AM

  6. the standard of reffing in this country is a laugh i­ can't ever remember so many bad mistakes we have­ probably seen ten years worth in the first 3 months­ they need reminding we pay to watch our teams and not­ them.

    From craigwise70, on Mon 10 Nov 9:29AM

  7. Not a lot of constructive stuff on this site at all,­ with only Cameron who at least is trying to put things­ into perspective. All this ha ha stuff is really rather­ childish from fanatics who cannot spell etc. As Cameron­ said,Barton was too scared to even make a tackle and­ Owen did not want to get hurt as he is off to the races­ tomorrow. Time to think about letting him go but where­ is any cash coming from to buy a decent replacement.­ The lack of attendance by the owner still remains a­ worry although the fans want to lynch him but he has­ the money remember and everything seems to be run from­ long distance as Joe must take his instructions from­ the smoke, even though to be fair he is having a go. At­ least get Sir Bobby in as advisor and remove him from­ his Irish commiyments. As things stand it is very much­ match to match but no preparation for the January­ window. I still believe they will not go down

    From taff, on Sun 9 Nov 11:21PM

  8. Owen shall leave as Newcastle get relegated to where­ they belong....

    From sappercommando25, on Sun 9 Nov 11:20PM

  9. cameron w,
    wot u get'n so upset about??
    your team­ won their last game!!!
    Gateshead 4 - 1­ Burscough.....hahahahahaha!!!
    FTM!!!

    From The Blake, on Sun 9 Nov 10:25PM

  10. HEY, cameron w!
    Never were's???!!!
    Your lot are­ never have's!!!!!
    FTM!!!

    From The Blake, on Sun 9 Nov 10:18PM

  11. See cameron, hansenguy has the idea

    From sam.williams39, on Sun 9 Nov 9:32PM

  12. REVIVAL? WHAT REVIVAL? WERE DOOMED GET USED TO IT

    From steve, on Sun 9 Nov 9:03PM

  13. sam.williams39
    Take a look at the attendance averages,­ oh and while you're at it . . . . take a look at­ the table. Our buddy flops may be 3rd bottom, but your­ never-weres are still below us. I'll grow up when­ you wake up; and as for you g.scott, you're­ sooooooooooooooooo
    predictable. All the turmoil at SJP­ and we are still in touch, lesser clubs (like yours)­ would've buckled completely. Keano, hurry up and­ sign that contract - you and the spitter el hadj are­ living legends!

    From cameron w, on Sun 9 Nov 6:55PM

  14. HOWAY LADS ,NOW CALM DOON,GREATEST FANS IN ENGLAND­ HA.HA.DINIT WORRY XMAS IS COMING YOU MIGHT GET­ SOMETHING IN YOUR STOCKING, ALTHOUGH YOU'VE GETTIN­ RID OF THE KING&
    MESSIAH AND NOW ONE OF THE WISE­ MEN IS TO GO ?
    NEVER MIND PLENTY OF ROOM AT THE INN­ FOR THE REST AS IT'S ALREADY FULL OF S--- AT­ ST.JAMES. LETS HOPE TOP SHEPHERD SHEARER RETURNS TO ADD­ TO IT .GOOD LUCK

    From eddie c, on Sun 9 Nov 6:50PM

  15. Cameron w comment 5. Team of 'never weres'?­ That team of 'never weres' beat your team of­ bluddy flops. And you honestly beleive you have the­ greatest fans? You need to grow up.

    From sam.williams39, on Sun 9 Nov 6:41PM

  16. GREATEST FANS IN ENGLAND???? HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA­ HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA­ HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA­ HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA­ .......................HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA­ HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!!!!!

    From ., on Sun 9 Nov 6:27PM

  17. Absolutely desperate result for Newcastle this.
    Johnson­ got his penalty, nowt new there then; worst officiating­ i've seen involving Newcastle all season - even­ Newcastle's goal was offside. The penalty should­ not have been allowed as the dying swan fouled the­ useless, out-of-his-depth Cacapa just prior to being­ shot by that darned sniper (again!!). Today, Barton­ seemed too afraid to make challenges (i wonder why),­ Martins couldn't hold up traffic and Duff did what­ it says on the can - throw in Owen's glaring miss­ and that just about sums up Newcastle. It is these­ games against fellow strugglers, which will determine­ Newcastle United's future in the Premier­ League,;and on this evidence they simply do not have­ the bottle, nor the class. I'm afraid to say that­ Fulham are the worst team we have played all season,­ doesn't bode well for the greatest fans in England­ does it! Still, at least we are above the­ 'legend' and his team of never-weres. Victory­ against Wigan is a MUST.

    From cameron w, on Sun 9 Nov 6:19PM

  18. is the newcastle coach fault!!!
    let owen sit on­ bench...amoebi not as good as OWEN...
    this is the­ final result...2-1..

    Owen should go to chelsea on JAN­ maybe there got a lot of future... rather just sit on­ the bench in newcastle...

    From KIN, on Sun 9 Nov 6:17PM

  19. is the newcastle coach fault!!!
    let owen sit on­ bench...
    this is the final result...2-1..

    Owen should­ go to chelsea on JAN maybe there got a lot of future...­ rather just sit on the bench in newcastle...

    From KIN, on Sun 9 Nov 6:16PM

  20. newcastle 1 accrington stanley 4

    From steve, on Sun 9 Nov 6:14PM
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