Starting Formations

Fulham
4-4-2

Zamora      Johnson

Gera          Murphy     Bullard     Davies

Konchesky     Hughes     Hangeland     Pantsil

Schwarzer

Newcastle
4-4-2

Martins     Ameobi

Duff     Barton     Butt     Gutierrez

Enrique     Cacapa     Coloccini     Beye

Given

Match Report

Fulham jumped into 10th position in the Barclays Premier League after goals from Andy Johnson and Danny Murphy handed the Whites all three points in a pulsating match at Craven Cottage on Sunday.

The first chance of the match fell to Fulham in the 7th minute when Andy Johnson was played in behind the left side of Newcastle’s defence. The striker cut the ball back into the path of Jimmy Bullard who stabbed at it with his right foot, forcing Shay Given into a smart save at his near post.

 

Fulham certainly started the match in bright fashion, passing the ball crisply and moving well off the ball. Another fine move between Johnson, Zamora and Davies saw the ball clipped to the back post where Gera did well to beat two defenders in the air, unfortunately he put his header just wide of the target.

 

As the first half developed Fulham’s share of the possession decreased slightly but Newcastle were still finding it difficult to break through Fulham’s two banks of four.

 

Gera was unfortunate to see a 17th minute goal-bound header cleared off the line by Jose Enrique. But Fulham continued to apply pressure, earning their fifth corner of the match in the 21st minute after a shot on goal from Johnson was deflected behind by Cacapa.

 

Fulham opened the scoring in the 20th minute after Andy Johnson’s alertness allowed him to pounce on an unfortunate piece of Newcastle defending. Claudio Cacapa’s attempted clearance from a Bullard delivery into the box hit his central defensive partner, Fabricio Coloccini, and fell to Johnson who drilled a low shot between Given’s legs and into the net.

 

In an attempt to get back into the game, Newcastle’s wingers, Duff and Gutierrez, swapped flanks. The change immediately resulted in Duff seeing a lot more of the ball and produced Newcastle’s best spell of possession of the first half – albeit without creating a goal scoring opportunity.

 

Newcastle first attempt on goal came in the 36th minute when Ameobi nodded the ball down to Martins on the edge of the area. The Newcastle striker took a touch before hitting a low shot wide of Mark Schwarzer’s left hand post.

 

Fulham were given a timely reminder that Newcastle were still a threat when Damien Duff’s diagonal run saw the former Chelsea winger hit a low, right-footed shot against Schwarzer’s near post.

Newcastle started the second half looking a much more dangerous outfit and came close to getting back on level terms when Jose Enrique managed to get away from John Pantsil and whip a low cross across the face of the six yard box.

 

Shola Ameobi’s 57th minute strike put the visitors back on level terms. Damien Duff’s cross was deflected twice on its way to Ameobi who prodded the ball home amid suspicions of offside. The visitors were clearly buoyed and almost snatched the lead when Nicky Butt’s shot was tipped around the post by Schwarzer.

 

Another shooting opportunity presented itself to Butt moments later as Fulham’s defence was starting to creak under immense Newcastle pressure.

 

Clint Dempsey replaced Zoltan Gera on 63 minutes as Roy Hodgson looked to get the Whites back into the ascendancy. Dempsey took up position on the right flank with Simon Davies moving to the left. The American’s first contribution to the match was to poke a delightful pass into the path of Andy Johnson who was subsequently brought down by Coloccini and the referee pointed immediately to the spot. Danny Murphy stepped up and calmly placed the spot kick past Given.

 

Roy Hodgson’s substitution certainly seemed to have the desired effect and Joe Kinnear responded in kind in the 70th minute by bringing on Michael Owen in place of Gutierrez.

 

Wonderful play by Dempsey on 72 minutes set up another Fulham attack which saw Simon Davies hammer a shot just wide of the far post. Dempsey was clearly enjoying himself. Erik Nevland replaced the hard working Bobby Zamora on 74 minutes as Hodgson looked to keep the Newcastle back four on their toes.

 

Clint Dempsey’s powerful run out of defence orchestrated another Fulham attack. The American international never looked favourite to retain possession as he chased a loose ball out of defence but he managed to power his way though and produce an attack which eventually saw Nevland’s low shot saved by Given.

 

Fulham third and final substitution of the match saw Danny Murphy replaced by Chris Baird on 88 minutes.

 

Newcastle continued to pressure the Fulham back line but they held firm to secure all three points.

fulhamfc.com Man of the Match

Andy Johnson
Scored one, won the penalty and was a willing runner all afternoon.

 

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