Despite impressing in patches it was an afternoon to forget as Fulham crashed to a frustrating defeat at Newcastle’s St James’ Park.

A strong finish to the game including Clint Dempsey’s late header was not enough as Leon Best’s double strike proved just enough for the home side to add to last weekend’s North East derby defeat of Sunderland.

In what was their 11th game of the season so far, Fulham certainly impressed in what was a controlled start to proceedings and one that suggested more than what would eventually unfold.

Steve Sidwell and Pajtim Kasami both tried their luck from distance as the home side threw men behind the ball, while Matthew Briggs’ teasing cross from the left almost found Clint Dempsey at the back post.

Moving the ball from back to front with relative ease it was the Whites who looked the more threatening although clear chances in front of goal remained at a premium.

But for all their early possession it was Newcastle that went closest, when Peter Lovenkrands directed Yohan Cabaye’s wayward strike narrowly wide of Mark Schwarzer’s goal and Gabriel Obertan shot over the bar.

The Magpies, clearly buoyed by the ever vocal home support, gradually edged themselves into the contest with striker Leon Best and midfield schemer Cabaye growing in confidence.

As a result the final 10 minutes of the first half ebbed and flowed as both sides went in search for what by that point had proved an elusive breakthrough.

Home ‘keeper Tim Krul had to be alert to one Damien Duff cross, while Aaron Hughes did well to head Jonas Gutierrez’s delivery to safety. The Argentine winger then moved Schwarzer into his first real save of the day, with the Aussie stopper diving bravely to claim his leaping downward header.

As Newcastle finished the half on top it was Hughes that came to Fulham’s rescue once more in denying Lovenkrands what looked like a clear strike at goal with brave low block.

The Magpies started the second-half as they finished the first and within minutes they were in front as Cabaye’s ambitious 25-yard strike cannoned off Schwarzer and back off the bar where Best tapped home for a simple close range finish.

Fulham responded positively with Briggs driving forward down the left and almost finding the path of Dempsey, before a clever move on the opposite flank involving Duff and Chris Baird found Steve Sidwell unmarked in the Newcastle box. The midfielder headed at goal, but Krul pushed his effort on to the bar with a fine instinctive stop.

Duff then went close when he broke free of Ryan Taylor but his low strike from the angle could only find the side netting.

At the other end Best needed little invitation when he grabbed Newcastle’s second, rolling the ball past Schwarzer following an intricate move through the Fulham defence.

The Whites certainly didn’t give up hope as Chris Baird’s powerful drive was turned aside by Krul, while Dempsey dragged one chance wide.

Danny Murphy rose well to connect with Sidwell’s searching cross, but once more the impressive Newcastle ‘keeper was more than alert turning the Fulham skipper’s header over the bar.

From the resulting corner Dempsey glanced Duff’s delivery from the left on to the far post as the Whites’ frustrations in front of goal grew.

But with the flow back in Fulham’s favour their determination was rewarded when Dempsey’s header from Murphy’s deep free-kick looped over Krul with three minutes left on the clock.

While the American’s goal offered a moment of belief the home side did just enough to hang on to all three points.