Sloppy Toon find a way as Bruno saves the day! – Newcastle 2-1 Fulham

A vital three points for Newcastle United, as we found a way to win while playing well below our best.

A sloppy display full of poor passing and very nearly a frustrating draw after we managed the game poorly after going 1-0 up, but Bruno Guimaraes’ 90th minute strike was the difference to make it two home wins in a week on Tyneside.

We had to bounce back from the 2-1 defeat at Brighton and started the day down in 14th, so this felt vital from a points and momentum perspective, sending us into the top 10, level with Aston Villa and two points from Chelsea.

Howe made one change from Tuesday, as Joelinton replaced Ramsey and Miley kept his place at the base of our midfield, seeing Tonali stay on the bench following a bug.

We made a decent start, where Gordon immediately got Tete into the book after bursting past the Dutchman, and should’ve scored soon after as Woltemade somehow hit the post, not the back of the net, from six yards out.

Murphy then hit the post from the angle after some lovely work from Bruno, although Fulham came close themselves as Jimenez was denied by a vital block, with Thiaw and Botman doing enough to snuff out the Mexican.

Thankfully, however, it was Newcastle that made the breakthrough, seeing Murphy rob Bassey of the ball, burst through on goal and fire a low shot in off the post. 1-0 Newcastle and it could have been two had the same man scored after Gordon’s clever through ball been finished before the break!

At the other end, Fulham grew into it and it was much of our own doing, with us gifting them possession in our own half far too many times. Whether it was Miley, Trippier or Botman’s poor balls straight to lime green shirts, Murphy’s giveaway in the box or our struggle to contain Traore, we were allowing Fulham a route back into the game as Berge forced Pope into a decent stop and Traore dragged a shot wide.

We had to wake up in the second half, as did the referee, who blew up for just about everything…other than Diop’s constant grappling with Woltemade!!

Shooting towards the Gallowgate in the second half, it didn’t take long for Fulham to equalise – and it had been coming. They weren’t peppering our goal, but our sloppiness continued and the visitors scored, first smashing the bar from an uncontested cross before Lukic tapped in.

Botman suffered a head injury attempting to stop the goal and Howe reacted with three immediate changes, seeing him, Miley and Murphy replaced by Schar, Tonali and Barnes.

Then came a huge chance to equalise, which Bruno somehow missed. Gordon’s ball was perfect and the Brazilian met it well, but his close range header flew over to add to the growing sense of frustration inside St James’ Park.

We had no control of the game, which was becoming increasingly stretched as our erratic passing continued. Bruno fired wide and Gordon overhit a cross after some great work to beat Tete, then we saw Elanga enter the action with 15 minutes to play.

The Swede saw plenty of the ball but looked like a man woefully short on confidence, misplacing a few simple passes which was quite in keeping with the game! That said, we were finally forcing Fulham back and gaining momentum, with Elanga’s blocked shot and Joelinton’s back post header two more close shaves.

Then came the decisive substitution that helped swing the game, as a tiring and slightly below par Woltemade was replaced by Osula, who made an instant impact with his energy, pace and quick feet.

Just as we’d entered the 90th minute, it was Elanga’s interception and Osula’s driving run that created the big opening we’d been crying out for. The big Dane’s shot was saved, Bruno was first to react and the Brazilian did the rest, firing home to send St James’ Park wild and seal the win!

Thiaw was superb all afternoon and the standout player, whether that be from his reading of danger, crisp passing and dominant defending on a day where Botman wasn’t quite at his imperious best. He looks an absolute bargain at £34m and looks made for the Premier League.

Next up, a midweek clash with Spurs in the Carabao Cup before a league trip to West Ham next Sunday.

Newcastle: Pope – Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, Burn – Miley, Guimaraes, Joelinton – Murphy, Woltemade, Gordon

Subs: Ramsdale, Schar, Tonali, Barnes, Krafth, Osula, Elanga, Willock, Ramsey

Fulham XI: Leno – Tete, Diop, Bassey, Sessegnon – Berge, Lukic – Adama, Smith Rowe, Iwobi – Jimenez