Newcastle earned all three points at St. James' Park on Saturday afternoon.
Starting Line Ups
Newcastle United
Steve Harper (GK), Jose Enrique, Joey Barton, Obafemi Martins, Michael Owen (C), Geremi, Habib Beye, Nicky Butt, Abdoulaye Faye, Steven Taylor, Mark Viduka
Subs: Charles N'Zogbia, Alan Smith, David Edgar, Fraser Forster (GK), Andy Carrroll
Fulham
Kasey Keller (GK), Paul Konchesky, Eddie Johnson, Paul Stalteri, Aaron Hughes, Brian McBride, Jimmy Bullard, Simon Davies, Leon Andreasen, Danny Murphy, Brede Hangeland
Subs: Moritz Volz, Carlos Bocanegra, David Healy, Tony Warner (GK), Clint Dempsey
First Half Action
Fulham got Saturday’s fixture at St. James’ Park underway and the Whites made a bright start to the game, finding their passing rhythm early on. Fulham earned the first corner of the game after Harper was forced to tip Jimmy Bullard’s right footed screamer from 30 yards over the bar.
6 min Newcastle’s first phase of pressure resulted in the opening goal of the game. The ball was played to Mark Viduka on the right hand side of the area in a central position. The striker feigned the shot with his right foot, turned his marker and fired into the far corner of the net from 18 yards.
Newcastle 1-0 Fulham
15 min Fulham responded well but the home side were limiting the Whites to long range efforts. Bullard tested Harper twice with drives from outside the area whilst at the other end Viduka, spearheading Newcastle’s attack alongside Martins, remained a constant threat.
21 min The Whites enjoyed a fine spell after 20 minutes and almost pulled the score-line level after Stalteri’s cross from the right earned a corner. Davies’s delivery found Johnson whose header from the far post almost snuck past the Toon’s defence.
23 min Fulham were almost caught with a sucker punch when Newcastle countered and Martins was released down the left. The striker turned two Fulham markers on the left hand side of the area and fired in a superb right footed curling shot. Keller pulled off a fine fingertip save to deny the Nigerian and keep the deficit to one.
28 min Kasey Keller pulled off two fantastic saves to deny Newcastle before the half hour mark. Michael Owen, playing deep behind Martins and Viduka, fired in a snap-shot volley from 30 yards which the American tipped round the post. Seconds later a cross from the right deflected off McBride from 6 yards and Keller palmed the ball away from the goal line.
33 min Fulham’s chances were few and far between during the first half hour but Bullard continued to threaten from distance. His third long range effort from 30 yards once again forced Harper into a save but Two minutes later Michael Owen wasted a golden opportunity to double the home side’s lead when a cross from the right found the striker unmarked 6 yards from goal. Fortunately for Fulham Owen headed straight at Keller who saved with ease.
40 min Faye's foul on McBride 25 yards from goal earned Jimmy Bullard an opportunity to continue his free-kick heroics but the home side's wall stood firm. It was to be the Whites final opportunity of the half and Newcastle went into the break a goal to the good.
Second Half Action
49 min Newcastle's attacking momentum continued at the start of the second half but the Whites held firm. Once again Hangeland was in fine form showing comphsure on the ball and marshalling his defence well. At the other end Fulham earned a free-kick and corner but could not capitalise on the opportunities in the opening five minutes of the second period.
55 min Fulham's travelling army of supporters, high up in the stands, were in fine voice throughout the game. However the home supporters were on their feet when Barton almost doubled the home side's lead. A Newcastle corner was cleared only as far as Barton 30 yards from goal and the midfielder sent in a thunderous drive which skimmed wide of Keller's post.
65 min Keller pulled off another superb save to deny Viduka from only three yards. Geremi, on the right hand side of the area, picked out Owen 12 yards from goal. The striker's shot was heading wide but Viduka flicked the ball goalwards with his back to goal. From almost point blank range Keller pushed the ball wide. Fine instinctive goalkeeping.
67 min Roy Hodgson made his first substitution of the game, replacing Brian McBride with Clint Dempsey. The striker partnered Johnson with Fulham retaining a 4-4-2 formation. Moments later Moritz Volz came on for Danny Murphy. Volz went wide right with Andreasen moving into central midfield alongside Bullard.
73 min Kevin Keegan replaced Martins with N'Zogbia for the final 15 minutes of the game. Seven minutes later Michael Owen put the game beyond doubt. Geremi delivered a free kick from the left and Owen timed his run to meet the ball on the six yard line. The striker made no mistake with his finish, nodding past Keller.
Newcastle 2-0 Fulham
84 min Both managers made substitutions for the last five minutes of the game. For Fulham David Healy replaced Paul Stalteri whislt Mark Viduka made way for Alan Smith and Edgar replaced Beye for Newcastle.
88 min Moritz Volz was booked by Referee Alan Wiley before the final whistle after bringing down N'Zogbia on the edge of the area. Fulham will now look towards next Saturday's game against Derby as they fight to reduce the points deficit at the bottom of the Premier League table.