Fulham hammered Newcastle 5-2 in the Premier League with an astonishing second-half fightback at Craven Cottage which included a hat-trick from Clint Dempsey.

The Cottagers were a goal down at the break after an unstoppable strike from Danny Guthrie as Newcastle dominated the play, but Fulham scored five in the second period as the teams' roles were reversed.

Penalties from Danny Murphy and Bobby Zamora sandwiched goals from Dempsey before Hatem Ben Arfa pulled one back for the Magpies.

However American attacker Dempsey raced through with a minute of normal time remaining to finish past Tim Krul and put the seal on an entertaining victory for Martin Jol's side.

Newcastle, by far the better side in a windy first half, could have found themselves behind to a freak goal on five minutes when home keeper David Stockdale's long punt forward was taken by the breeze and bounced over Tim Krul, who recovered to prevent a goal or corner.

Leon Best and Shola Ameobi worked hard in attack but the away side missed the imposing, athletic presence of Demba Ba, away on African Cup of Nations duty with Senegal, in and around the box.

Philippe Senderos was unconvincing in the heart of the Fulham defence, wrongfooting keeper Stockdale with an unorthodox header on 12 minutes that dropped just wide of the post - and late in the half got away with a similar defensive lapse.

Away centre-half Fabricio Coloccini should have opened the scoring on 34 minutes when, free in the box, his half-volley was directed straight at Stockdale.

Midfielder Steve Sidwell was forced off with an injury soon afterwards and Andy Johnson came on for Fulham to form a three-pronged attack alongside Zamora and Dempsey which ultimately paid dividends.

However before half-time Newcastle continued to apply pressure, with Stockdale tipping an Ameobi effort wide of the far post.

The visitors were rewarded with the opening goal a minute later - two minutes before the break. Ben Arfa gave the ball to Guthrie in midfield and he surged forward to hit into the roof of the net from 18 yards out.

Davide Santon was booked on the stroke of half-time when he tugged down Johnson, who was breaking for goal on the right.

The first penalty was a controversial one. Duff chased a long ball into the box and was shoved over by Santon, but the challenge seemed to take place just outside the box.

Murphy sent Krul the wrong way for his 50th goal for the club on 52 minutes. He has now scored six goals against Newcastle, more than against anyone else.

Zamora and Johnson combined several times, with the players interchanging positions in the centre and on the right fluidly, as Fulham took the game to Newcastle. And on 59 minutes one such move put them ahead.

Johnson broke from halfway and played in Zamora on the right. He cut inside to send Coloccini sprawling only for Krul to push away his low shot; however the ball came off the arriving Dempsey and rolled into the unguarded net.

With the Toon unable to find a way past the Fulham defence, Jol's men hit them on the counter again six minutes later to extend their unexpected lead. Johnson flicked the ball back to Zamora, who picked out the run of Dempsey down the channel - and he found the bottom corner with style.

Two minutes further on, Fulham had another spot-kick. Krul cleared poorly and Fulham surged forward again, Johnson breaking through a foul from Mike Williamson as he entered the box - and Krul took out the striker to earn a yellow card.

Zamora stepped up this time and also converted with aplomb.

Newcastle were reduced to wild strikes from distance, although Ameobi did have the ball in the net on 73 minutes from close range; he was a yard offside.

On 85 minutes Ben Arfa tricked his way into the box from the right to come inside Riise and finish inside the near post for 4-2, but there was time for Fulham to score a fifth.

Zamora held the ball up inside his own half and twisted to send Dempsey through on goal with a high ball. He coolly nodded the ball on ahead of the chasing defenders and got it out of his feet before stroking home to complete his hat-trick.

Fulham climb to 12th in the table with the win, while Newcastle in sixth lose ground on the top four.

Jonathan Symcox - on Twitter @jonathansymcox / Eurosport