- Second-half goals from Jimenez and Muniz secured all three points for Fulham
- The Magpies led at the break thanks to Jacob Murphy’s fourth goal of the term
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Work on Newcastle’s stadium project is still a long way off, but the old fortress is starting to crumble.
Arsenal, visitors in the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg this week, will be packing the sledgehammer after Fulham became the latest side to draw a blueprint for demolition.
Marco Silva‘s side were deserved winners after reversing a half-time deficit and, even though Newcastle took the lead, at no point did they look the likely victors. That is four home defeats for them now this season. Their ceiling is high, but the floor is low on days like this.
Eddie Howe‘s men began with the fast and furious Wednesday night vibes they will need when Arsenal arrive chasing a two-goal deficit. The opening minutes at St James’ usually set the tone for what is to follow.
But it soon felt more like one of those Saturday lunchtime slogs for the hosts, who ceded possession and territory to Fulham. Howe was evidently agitated on the touchline. Too much of what he was seeing picked at the scar tissue of the 4-1 defeat by Bournemouth last time out here.
So, when Newcastle did nick the advantage on 38 minutes, it was needed. Jacob Murphy was the scorer but the goal belonged as much to Anthony Gordon. With his team in a daze, it was the winger who injected the adrenaline that shot them upfield.
Rodrigo Muniz snuck in at the back post to claim all three points for Fulham at St James’ Park
Fulham inflicted a second home defeat in as many games on Newcastle, who they closed the gap to the league
The Magpies had taken an early lead when Jacob Murphy (middle) converted from close range
Raul Jimenez restored parity on the hour mark with a well taken header that deflected off the Newcastle scorer
Newcastle missed the chance to go three points clear of Manchester City in the race for Champions League football
From his surge down the left and pull-back, albeit deflected, Murphy steered in from eight yards. The confidence of the finish captured his recent form. Not that he or his team-mates looked like winners of 10 of their previous 11 matches in much of what else they did.
The second half opened with Fulham on top and the home side clinging to their lead with as much control as a kite in a hurricane. It was inevitable that the visiting storm would bring them level and, just after hour, Raul Jimenez’s shot was deflected in via Murphy after a swift breakaway.
Parity was deserved and so was the lead that would arrive 20 minutes later. In between, Alexander Isak hit the crossbar and Joe Willock swiped at fresh air from a few yards out as Newcastle enjoyed a brief spell of dominance, but Fulham were always the most likely winners.
So it proved. And when Andreas Pereira delivered a wicked free-kick from the left in the 82nd minute, fellow substitute Rodrigo Muniz stole in unmarked to flick home.
Newcastle could not muster a shot on goal in response, and that was reflective of a sorry afternoon in which the Gallowgate walls continued to wobble. They will have to hold far firmer against Arsenal.
