You know what they say about good teams – they find a way to win even when playing well below their best!
That was true of Newcastle United today, who left it late to beat an organised Fulham side after a solid yet sloppy performance at St James’ Park.
Aleksandar Mitrovic had a chance to hand Fulham a second half lead from the spot, but it was Alexander Isak who came up trumps, heading home in the 89th minute to send the Gallowgate wild!
Late victories like this are also priceless, giving us another monumental boost at the end of a rollercoaster week on Tyneside. OK, we were way off our electric, high-intensity best, barely tested Leno and looked unlikely from set pieces, but it’s another huge three points where we restricted the visitors to zero shots on target.
The win sends us up to third – back above Manchester United – and just one point behind Manchester City in second. That’s also our SIXTH straight Premier League clean sheets and our seventh straight at SJP in all competitions, extending our unbeaten run in the Premier League to 14 games.
Joelinton kept his place in the side, despite his arrest in the early hours of Thursday morning for drink driving, leaving Allan Saint-Maximin on the bench alongside fit-again striker Alexander Isak as Howe went with the same 11 that beat Leicester in midweek.
The first half saw us continue the theme of spurning good chances at St James’ Park. We didn’t have a great deal of openings, as an in-form Fulham generally defended well, but there were a few big openings.
Bruno played a brilliant disguised pass to find Longstaff – who was making a couple of smart runs in the box – but his effort was blocked brilliantly. Wilson had a huge opportunity to make it 1-0 just before the break – his turn was superb to leave two Fulham defenders for dead, yet the finish was game and curled straight at Leno.
There were a few too many sloppy passes as we looked to build from the back. Trippier, Botman and Burn were all guilty of cheap giveaways, while Schar was arguably our best player in the opening 45, picking out some lovely passes and dealing with Mitrovic well.
The bad news was Bruno failed to shake off a twisted ankle picked up midway through the first 45, seeing him replaced by Allan Saint-Maximin at the break. It felt like a huge blow to lose the Brazilian, who looked visibly upset as he went down the tunnel.
We continued to look a few levels below our best – Trippier was having a rare off game and Wilson looked sluggish once again. Fabian Schar was the first to go close in the second half, smashing a free-kick off the post on the hour mark, but the biggest turning point of the game followed five minutes later.
Fulham wanted a penalty for Burn’s challenge on Andreas, but it was Trippier’s late swipe on Decordova-Reid that was shown to the referee before he changed his initial decision and pointed to the spot.
Mitrovic stepped up, scored and reeled away in celebration, only for the referee to disallow the Serbian’s strike as a slip just as he struck the ball meant he touched it twice before it hit the net!
A wave of energy, noise and optimism suddenly whipped around the stadium. It felt like we’d suddenly been given the lift we needed and a second chance to win a game that looked destined to end all square if we didn’t get going.
Isak came on immediately after, giving fans another reason to believe, although we continued to look unlikely in the final third, with Saint-Maximin’s firing just wide before the match-winning moment arrived.
After Wilson’s initial header was blocked following Longstaff’s teasing cross, our number nine latched onto the loose ball and put it on a plate for Isak, who headed into an empty net and celebrated his first goal at the Gallowgate!
Joelinton was a man mountain once again – he and Schar were the best players on the pitch, for me – while Longstaff put in a strong, under the radar display in midfield. Wilson continues to look off the pace and Trippier put in one of his poorer games for the club, but it’s a relief to see him and Schar avoid yellow cards that would’ve led to a one-game ban.
Bruno’s twisted ankle remains a big worry – he left the ground on crutches – and our performance was well below the standard set in recent months, however late wins like this can be priceless, seeing us beat an in-form Fulham side who’d won all of their last five games since the World Cup break.
Next up, a trip to Crystal Palace on Saturday, followed by our semi-final first leg at Southampton a week on Tuesday.
(4-3-3): Pope – Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn – Longstaff, Guimaraes, Willock – Almiron, Wilson, Joelinton.
SUBS: Dubravka, Lascelles, Isak, Saint-Maximin, Ritchie, Lewis, Manquillo, Wood, Murphy.
It is amazing how Spurs are still in the race for top 4. They have lost 7 of their last 13 PL games. We are 5 points ahead with a game in hand. Are people starting to believe yet?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
If you look at it player for player including the bench, Spurs do not have a very good squad. Even though Man U have spent badly for years I think currently only 2 or 3 Spurs players would get in their team. Plus, they have a dodgy goalie.
Then there is Conte. Will he or wont he sign a new contract? My money is on him not. In these cases of uncertainty the team often suffers.
I said at the start of this season that this would be NUFCs best chance of getting CL. Only Prem agreed. In fact, I think Prem was the only one in our whole fan base who also said so . Most said they would be happy with top 10 even though we finished 11th last year and added quality to the team. There were many clichés of “evolution not revolution” and “walk before you can run”. I am glad Eddie took no notice.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Just looking at the table, can anyone really believe, we are 10 points ahead of both Liverpool and Chelsea! 10 points! And look at our goal difference! 😳😳. What a manager! And what a team!
Gilly Toon(Quote)
As I say I think it is between us and Man U for third, with us just edging it given that they have to visit us at SJP and our Goal Difference
PremAndUp(Quote)
Liverpool play Chelsea this weekend so some or both will drop points. Does anybody even know what the Chelsea squad is anymore?
The Liverpool title winners have all aged together or last year burned them out. A lot of the younger replacements are injured. I cant see them or Chelsea catching us.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Theres more chance of one of Fulham, Brighton or Brentford being a threat
At least they know how to play football
PremAndUp(Quote)
It really does go under the radar how badly Spurs have bought over the last few years – from Mourinho to Conte. All the attention was on Man U but they had the bones of a squad, Spurs dont even have that. Kane and Son, Kulishevki and Richarleson . That’s about it. And Son is out of form,
They are all forwards, so who supplies them? Plus, only 2 were bought recently.
Dwelling on Spurs because they are our nearest rivals for top 4 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
No. They wish they were rivals
PremAndUp(Quote)
I’ve just put SSN on to get the latest round transfers – what the F is going on there?!?!!!
A bunch of Jacamo models sat round a table, talking as if they have any kind of clue about what’s going on from club to club …. Ones called Flex FFS!!!.
Can you imagine our media team saying to Eddie – should put a release out about our new signing? – Eddie replies – hang fire, I need to tell Flex first 🙄 whey give owa.
I’ve turned it off 👎🏻
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy: were they standing around the studio, not on a couch or at a desk? They had them on on the last transfer window. Not sure who any of them are. That’s all we need – more fcn pundits 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
My least favourite pundit is Micah Richards. In the 1st 2 minutes of every broadcast he sounds like a cross between a stuck pig and a hyena. Then he goes on to talk absolute nonsense. He has some really stiff competition to be the worst, but it is loudness and the fact he thinks he is funny that does it for me.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric – nah 4 of them sat round a table to give them more of a professional appearance.
Sat telling me what Trossard could bring to Arsenal, probably cost they bought him for Arsenal in footy manager once.
I get Sky has a budget & most of it will go on Nev, Carra and Micah – but when I’m watching a transfer update and the persons Instagram handle pops up – I’m out.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I have no idea how West Ham are where they are. They spent 175 million in the summer and have topped it up with 15 mil on Ings. They should be top half. Is it Moyes reverting to his miserable self like he was at Sunderland.
Anyway, I think they will beat Everton so we will see what happens with Super Frank.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I posted this on the how can Chelsea buy all those players thread
If the £500m is all on 8yr contracts then only £63m applies to this year. However they have prespent £63m for each of the following years. If they sell a player then that entire sale fee is placed in the current year. So selling a player for £65m this year puts them in the black under FFP rules. The risk is that a player is not good enough and spends 8yrs being paid for nowt as no one else will want them.
I think that’s how it works
PremAndUp(Quote)
correct Prem. It’s a huge risk, you have to hope each player comes good.
kimtoon(Quote)
Didnt Chelsea have a player who just sat on the bench for 4 years as nobody else could afford his wages or wanted him. I think his name was Winston Bogard.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Good luck to Chris wood
kimtoon(Quote)
Aye .. and a nice thought that if Newcastle avoid defeat on Saturday that’ll be 15 unbeaten. That’s never been achieved by the club
GoWest!Mag(Quote)
Aye .. and a nice thought that if Newcastle avoid defeat on Saturday that’ll be 15 unbeaten. That’s never been achieved by the club
I think it’s a little more involved than that (while acknowledging I’m no expert). I found an article by an international sports law firm which I’ll try and dig out to back up my wittering below
Since June 2022, Ffp losses allowed are €60m annually against fair ( whatever that means) revenue. Wages and transfer fees count towards ffp with fees relevant to the past three years and wages for the future three years
So I think any split fee needs to have wages added.
then we’re into us sports style contracts of guaranteed and incentivised wages so I’m guessing they’re betting on ffp allowances to increase and commercial revenue to increase if they’re successful
GoWest!Mag(Quote)
I think there is only one place in doubt for tomorrow – ASM or Isak to start. The rest sort of picks itself because we have only 3 midfielders and Miggy’s form.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I’ve heard Murphy starts…
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
The only way I see Palace scoring is an individual effort from Zaha. Keep him out and I think we win 2 nil. There are other interesting games:
Who will start for Chelsea? I honestly have no clue.
West Ham/Everton. There is no way West Ham should be where they are. They have a good squad and should be midtable. Moyes is known for micro-managing and the players might just be sick of him now? Everton have **** players and are another Calvert Lewin injury away from certain relegation.
Eric Sykes(Quote)