Rate it!

78 votes

Newcastle United dropped back into the Premier League relegation zone after losing 1-0 to Fulham at St James' Park.

Upon taking the job as temporary manager, Alan Shearer earmarked Newcastle's final three home games as must-wins if they were to escape from the drop, but Diomansy Kamara's first-half winner means the Magpies travel to Aston Villa on the final day with their fate now out of their own hands.

That's because Hull City's 1-1 draw at Bolton Wanderers puts the Tigers on 35 points, one point above Newcastle and in 17th place ahead of the visit of newly-crowned champions Manchester United.

For Fulham's part, they now need just a draw from their final game at home to FA Cup-finalists Everton to qualify for the Europa League next season, barring a high-scoring Tottenham win at Anfield next weekend.

With five minutes of the first-half to play on Tyneside, Fulham captain Danny Murphy skipped a challenge in midfield and played the ball into the path of Erik Nevland. The Norwegian striker burst into the box and squared a pass to Kamara, and the Senegalese had enough time to take a touch before firing into the roof of the net to bag his third goal in two games.

If Kamara's goal stuck the knife into struggling Newcastle, then he gave it an extra twist when his pace and strength forced last man Sebastien Bassong to haul him down as the two both chased a long ball. Referee Howard Webb did not hesitate in rightfully sending Bassong off, leaving Newcastle down to 10 men for the final half-hour.

Fulham's slick counter-attack with half-time approaching was punishment for Newcastle failing to capitalise on their early dominance.

Alan Shearer's side, missing captain Michael Owen after the striker picked up a groin injury on Friday, started with Obafemi Martins partnering Mark Viduka up front.

The home side were determined to take the game to their visitors, who seemed content to contain and hit their opponents on the break.

Newcastle could not create the number of chances that their dominance deserved, however. Their only clear chance fell to Martins when he latched on to a pass from Kevin Nolan down the right but his first-time shot crashed off the outside of the near post.

Newcastle rallied somewhat following the goal with Jonas Gutierrez, a source of much of his side's good play, having two shots blocked.

Shortly after the break, Martins fired a half-volleyed shot just wide of the target.

That signalled Newcastle's intent and Viduka beat Mark Schwarzer to a cross only to see his header cleared off the line by Dickson Etuhu.

From the subsequent corner, Viduka again met the ball with his head, this time guiding it into the back of the net, only for Webb to rule the goal out for Nolan's obstruction of the visiting keeper.

Even after the sending off, Newcastle still created the better chances but former Middlesbrough keeper Schwarzer twice denied them.

The Australian goalie first smothered a Martins shot after the Nigerian had dribbled past Aaron Hughes, before he pulled off a terrific reaction save from Nicky Butt's close range effort in stoppage time.

Tony Mabert / Eurosport