Newcastle defied the critics with a much-needed win over Fulham, seeing the Toon progress to the Fifth Round of the FA Cup at Craven Cottage.
Sean Longstaff’s strike in the first half separated the teams at the break before Dan Burn turned the ball in to double the lead.
After hammering the Mackems in the Third Round, Newcastle went to Craven Cottage looking to bring the same clinical edge that saw them win on Wearside against a Fulham team which has seen inconsistency stain a good season.
It wasn’t the dominant display we saw against Sunderland, nor was it the exciting attacking performance that we saw against Man City. But the lads got the job done and are into the hat for the next round.
Following a set piece six minutes before half-time, the ball bobbled up to Sean Longstaff after a deflection off Bruno. The Whitley Bay-born midfielder slammed the ball into the net to give Newcastle the advantage.
Clinical. 😎 pic.twitter.com/sqffSW1x48
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) January 27, 2024
It was checked by VAR, but since Bruno was not the goalscorer there was not deemed to be any advantage gained from the ball clipping his elbow on the way through to Longstaff.
Jacob Murphy also had the ball in the back of the net before half-time, but he strayed into an offside position and a wonderful goal-scoring return to the starting 11 was not to be.
A wicked delivery from Trippier provided the second. Whipped in for Botman to head towards goal, the keeper stopped the ball from going in from Botman, but only parried as far as Burn who blasted it home from less than six yards.
BDB doubles our lead! 👊 pic.twitter.com/HCwbnYVFZW
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) January 27, 2024
But Newcastle were disjointed, sloppy in possession, and still looked lethargic even after a couple of weeks off. It will be a cause for concern since this was Fulham’s sixth game since the turn of the year and they looked much more energetic. A win tonight was ultimately all that mattered, but we’ll have to be better at Aston Villa next Tuesday.
Bruno particularly looked off the pace. He misplaced several passes and did not really produce anything of note. He also looked like he was playing with less fire than usual.
However, the story of the day in the FA Cup was one of being clinical. Earlier in the afternoon sixth-tier Maidstone United pulled off a 2-1 upset with only two shots against Ipswich. Newcastle also had fewer chances than their hosts.
Fulham had a handful of chances but they were met by Trippier, Botman, Schar, or no one at all. It was a typical case of the home side being made to pay for their missed chances. Their best chance in the second half came 15 minutes from full-time, seeing Jimenez nod over from a floated cross.
The Toon began to grow into the game after the hour mark, remarkably so given the lack of energy that was displayed in the first half. The second wind enabled them to carve a couple of chances on the flanks as Gordon looked to add to his tally for the season.
Newcastle progress into the Fifth Round of the FA Cup for the first time since 2020 and only the second time in 17 years. We will find out our Fifth Round opponents at around 2pm on Sunday January 28 on ITV1.
NUFC XI: Dubravka – Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn – Longstaff, Bruno, Miley – J Murphy, Isak, Gordon.
SUBS: Karius, Dummett, Krafth, Hall, Livramento, A.Murphy, Parkinson, Hernes.
Uninspiring performance all round.
If that’s what two weeks off does heaven help us for the rest of the season.
We definitely need someone with pace on the right of defence, Schar almost made Trippier look like Usain Bolt at times.
Best player on the park for half the match was Willian who had good movement and hardly misplaced a pass, we could do with him in our midfield.
Joseph(Quote)
Good result and comfortable enough in the end.
Pleased for longstaff and burn.
Doubt it’ll shut up the snarky tw4t5 sniping at them who I wish would step back and recognise everyone including the players themselves recognises their limitations.
Anyhow onto the game. It was weirdly low key and I think nufc while nowhere near their best were playing within themselves with Tuesday in mind and trying to keep the game controlled.
Some sloppy passing aside it was working and by the time Fulham, who were more progressive, threatened to actually score, the toon could’ve been two up.
Shame the first effort came to Murphy so early as he showed later what a bit of game time would enable. Schar was very unlucky not to score.
2nd half was clearly about seeing the game out and they took an opportunity when it came.
I was really chuffed to see the shackles come off miley in the 2nd half and it looked like it was a deliberate ploy to sit guimaraes deeper and leave miley to link play more aggressively upfield. He looked good again with some lovely interplay and passing and his links with livramento looked positive too
I just sit back and smile when Gordon goes forward .. what a stud he is.
5th round of the FA Cup in a season many fans are suggesting is a write off. Some heads need a f’kin wobble. After watching largely 5h1t since the 70’s, I’ll take it.
HTL
GoWest!Mag(Quote)
Good write up Joshua, thanks!
Job done, and two Geordie goal scorers. We were shi.te mind. Really poor so it was even better result in the end. To play badly and yet still win is commendable. Into the 5th round for the first time in, what, 17 years?
Gilly Toon(Quote)
I’d take ugly looking 2-0 wins every day of the week to be honest.
Yes the players have had 2 weeks off but Howe has given them a well needed break during that period to recharge their batteries.
They haven’t been on the training ground for 2 weeks so not surprised they looked a little rusty.
What I found pleasing was whilst Fulham had 14 shots to our 8 only 2 of theirs were on target compared to 6 of ours.
I also liked that we looked dangerous from set pieces & both goals were as a result – I don’t think we get enough goals from them.
A wins a win & with a clean sheet too – hopefully a good confidence builder for the boys 👍🏼
Thought Burn was excellent tonight.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Not our best performance, slightly better in the second half but again in the last few minutes of a game we made sloppy passes which could of cost us. So hacked off at us losing concentration in the last few minutes, is it a nervous confidence thing or what ?
Anyway job done which is most important.
kimtoon(Quote)
Yep well played Burn agree.
kimtoon(Quote)
So, yet another away draw in a cup! At least it’s not a prem team. Blackburn or Wrexham away. 👍
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Sigh! Another away game in the 5th round.
But I for one love seeing the club in the draw beyond the opening round and the team have shown they can get the job done against lower league opponents in the cup this season so let’s hope they continue that
HTL
GoWest!Mag(Quote)
Obviously would have preferred a home tie but in fairness there were a lot worse teams we could have faced.
With some of the players we hopefully have coming back soon, you’ve got to think we should be going to either ground and advancing.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I watched a few bits of analysis this morning from the likes of Craig Hope who was really very critical of our performance yesterday – saying about it that if we play like that against PL teams in league games we will lose more than we’d win.
It was far from pretty – but then everyone connected to the club who was interviewed yesterday acknowledged that.
But at the same time I don’t feel like we’ve robbed them of anything!!.
I only remember Dubravka having to make that 1 very good save in the first half – he certainly wasn’t peppered with shots.
We can play far better than that, but winning ugly when your away form is as bad as ours has been builds confidence imo. We will definitely be better than that.
But back to Hopes point – such is the job Howe has done with this team, I have only ever looked up & saw us catching those up to 6th place – beyond that may just be too many points ahead I fear.
But I do not look down at teams catching us anymore – which was a regular concern pre Howe.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Quite right sharpy. Nufc were intentional in how they set up yesterday and had a plan for Fulham not the rest of their games. It worked and while not always fluent and quite sloppy at times, NUFC restricted Fulham to two efforts on target at home in an fa cup game
Pretty good day for nufc and I’ll take away wins with clean sheets founded on determination and a gritty mindset all day long
I find hope and his ilk to be a bit lazy and preset in their thinking so don’t pay much attention as I don’t think they offer credible commentary
GoWest!Mag(Quote)
GoWest – I agree with your comments re Hope. To be honest, I only really tune in coz I know he’ll be writing an article that the wider world will read and base their NUFC opinions on.
I prefer Keith Downie if I’m listening to any of them.
I think it was just the level of negativity he put across having just beaten a PL rival 2-0 at their place.
Had he waxed lyrical about our performance that would have been nonsense too. It wasn’t great but defensively we were solid & that’s what a lot of last seasons success was built on – so if that’s what Howe is working on & we can get that back to close to how it was, then I think goals will come – especially when the likes of Barnes, Willock & Wilson return.
Sharpy17(Quote)
The thing I would add that is also helping and hopefully continues is the relationship between dubravka and the defence.
He had a really tough intro following popes injury where the team shipped goals. I’m not sure he played that badly but he drew lots of scrutiny.
It was on this blog I recall an article right after his injury that suggested pope’s
might be the be the most impactful injury.
Pope plays so much outside his box and allows the defence to push up as he patrols the spaces behind. This allows a much more cohesive press.
Dubravka isn’t inclined and doesn’t do that. The team seem to have adjusted defensively to having dubravka in goal. It hurts the forward play a little but if they can make better use of isak than they did yesterday and with some higher level players due back the counterattacking may improve
GoWest!Mag(Quote)
GoWest – yeah excellent point mate & one I think lots of people don’t consider. They just see a goal go in & the keeper gets the blame.
But you’re right. If it was a CF you would be able to see the change in tactics based on the player coming in – as in is the forward a target man, is he a fox in the box poacher, does he play on the last defenders shoulder & likes to run in behind – you’d see the change in play.
Keepers are the same. Are they good communicators – so keepers like Pickford are at their defenders constantly, where others go about their business with less drama. Some are comfortable coming out for crosses, others will leave the defenders to contest them. There are obviously many other attributes but you get the point.
If we can keep that back 5 fit & get some consistency with their game time, I think that solid defensive foundation comes back & we improve from there.
I think that’s key to everything coz the harder teams find it to break us down, the more risks they take, which just creates opportunities for the likes of Gordon & Isak – and Barnes was always brilliant on the counter attack for Leicester so I’m sure he’ll add to it in time.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Howe has again spoke about not breaching FFP and his ideal scenario come the end of the window would be to keep the squad together – but he knows that may not be possible for the long term betterment of the club.
Has it ever been released or suggested whether we are currently in breach or how close to the wind we actually are?!.
Sharpy17(Quote)
https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/statistik/endendevertraege
So according to this Mbappes contract expires this summer – is it worth accepting an FFP breach & 10 point deduction to get him 🤔😂
Sharpy17(Quote)
By the way – great news young Miley has signed a new deal. What a season for the young lad and his family.
Have to say the lad has earned it as well. He seems such an honest, hardworking lad & if he keeps on the path he seems to be on I think he’s got a very big future in football.
On a wider note – a young local lad doing so well has to been inspiring for young local talent.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy;
PSR; (groans) over the last 3 years clubs losses against turnover are (roughly) 20-21 £12m, 21-22 £71m and 22-23 £74m. These were the basis of the figures the club submitted on dec 31st for PL to assess and issue a warning they were non compliant ( ala Everton and forest). Those figures are top level and include non PSR spend( youth team , women’s team, exec costs, and stadium /training for example.
NUFC weren’t even mentioned as potentially breaching so are good right now it seems.
I have no certainty when new commercials & CL money kicks in, but common perception is the summer (July 1st)
Mbappe; no thanks and I know you’re joking. Leao for Wilson tho ?? Almost as unrealistic but yes please
Miley; agreed it’s fab to see him signing long term
GoWest!Mag(Quote)
You can stick Mbappe where the sun don’t shine, no thanks.
kimtoon(Quote)