Fulham returned to winning ways after an end-to-end encounter with Newcastle United at the Cottage on Monday night.

The Whites had gone into the game without a win in seven and without a goal in their last three games.

Steve Sidwell’s deflected effort on 19 minutes put Fulham in front, only for Hatem Ben Arfa to haul the Magpies level in the second half with a long-range strike.

Fabricio Coloccini then hit the bar for the hosts, before the Whites went back in front, Hugo Rodallega powering home Damien Duff’s delivery on 63 minutes.

Both sides had further chances to score but it was Fulham who held on for a crucial win.

Martin Jol made five changes to the side that lost 3-0 at home to Tottenham Hotspur last time out. Brede Hangeland returned from suspension, while Chris Baird, Duff, Alexander Kačaniklić and Rodallega all came into the starting XI. Philippe Senderos, Mahamadou Diarra, Ashkan Dejagah and Mladen Petric dropped down to the bench, with no place in the matchday squad for Kerim Frei.

The Whites started brightly. Sidwell nearly played Kačaniklić in, but Coloccini got back to make a crucial last-ditch tackle as the Swedish winger shaped to shoot. Newcastle’s first attack saw Mike Williamson head well over from Danny Simpson’s cross.

In the 14th minute, Vernon Anita dragged a shot wide. From the resulting goal-kick, Mark Schwarzer played the ball straight to Papiss Cisse. Thankfully for Fulham, Cisse’s cross towards Ba was collected by the sprawling Schwarzer.

At the other end, Baird found ex-Newcastle man Duff with a lovely crossfield pass. The Irishman’s cross was met by Rodallega, who contolled the ball brilliantly with his chest but fired over on the volley. It mattered little, however, as seconds later Fulham were in front. Rodallega slipped in Duff down the right and the winger’s pullback was hit towards goal by Sidwell from just inside the area. His effort looped up off the leg Williamson and went in via the crossbar – with the goal credited to the Fulham midfielder.

It should have been 2-0 just moments later. A misplaced pass by Cheick Tiote saw Dimitar Berbatov scamper clear. With all the time in the world, though, the Bulgarian saw his effort saved by Tim Krul who had raced off his line to narrow the angle.

Berbatov nearly made amends on 29 minutes. After Sascha Riether’s cross was tipped into the path of the Fulham striker by Krul, the Newcastle keeper got up quickly to block Berbatov’s effort with his feet from close range.

Riether was soon called into action at the other end, his actions keeping Fulham in front. A well-worked corner by Newcastle saw Coloccini arrive late to meet Anita’s corner. The Argentine’s header was going in – but Riether leapt off the line to nod it away from his position on the right-hand post.

And on the stroke of half-time, the German was in the right place at the right time again, clearing Demba Ba’s effort from close to the line after Schwarzer had failed to deal with an Anita cross.

Anita fizzed a shot just over at the start of the second half, before Rodallega played a fine pass to put Berbatov into space on the left-hand side of the box. With Rodallega screaming for the return ball, Berbatov, resplendent in black tights, went for goal and could only poke his effort into the side-netting.

Fulham’s misses were to prove costly as Newcastle levelled on 54 minutes. Despite the close attentions of John Arne Riise and Kačaniklić, Ben Arfa managed to cut in from the right before unleashing a dipping left-footed shot that caught Schwarzer flatfooted and flew in with the hint of a deflection off Riise.

Krul made a fine save to deny Sidwell on the hour mark after Berbatov had played a delightful throughball to Fulham’s number seven, the Newcastle goalkeeper racing off his line to block the effort of the midfielder. Fulham then made their first change, Dejagah replacing Kačaniklić.

And the Iran international had an immediate impact, winning a free-kick on the right within seconds of entering the fray that led to the Whites going back in front as Duff’s delivery from the set-piece was powerfully headed home by Rodallega. It was the Colombian’s first goal at the Cottage since his summer switch from Wigan Athletic.

Newcastle’s response was to replace Ben Arfa with Shola Ameobi as Alan Pardew threw a third striker into the mix. Fulham had the crossbar to thank on 71 minutes as Coloccini found himself just outside the box and hit a wonderful curling effort towards the net. His shot beat Schwarzer but came back off the crossbar, with Fulham able to scramble the rebound clear. At the other end, Sidwell scooped well over after being teed up by Berbatov, who himself had been found in space following a wonderful flick from Dejagah.

With five minutes to go, Jol made his second change, Petric coming on for Rodallega. The Croatian’s first involvement saw his long-range effort tip the top of the crossbar.

There were a few nervy moments for Fulham in the dying seconds – but they stood firm to take the three points.