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Newcastle 1 Fulham 2: Toon dealt major blow in Champions League hunt as visitors battle from goal down to snatch victory
NEWCASTLE completely blew it and threw away the lead to lose to Fulham. Eddie Howe revealed his “desperation” to take the club back to the Champions League pre-match but those hopes suffered a crushing blow with this 2-1 loss. Fulham dealt Newcastle a severe blow to their Champions League hopesGetty Newcastle ace Jacob Murphy opened th scoring for NewcastleRex Fulham star Raul Jimenez equlised against NewcastleReuters Fulham star Rodrigo Muniz turned the match on its headReuters And a second-straight home defeat was the worst possible preparation for the Magpies ahead of their Carabao Cup semi-final second-leg against Arsenal. However, Fulham’s second-half fightback has them dreaming of Europe once again after Rodrigo Muniz came off the bench to win it. Newcastle looked to be cruising to an eighth league win out of nine after Jacob Murphy had given them a half-time lead. Instead, a sloppy display after the break cost them as Raul Jimenez levelled before the Brazilian’s late dagger through the heart. It had all started so well for the Magpies and things could have been much different if top scorer Alexander Isak had his shooting boots on. Murphy’s early cross would usually have been bread and butter for Isak, but the in-form Swede’s air-kicked attempted volley let the visitors off the hook. Fulham, though, still failed to clear properly and within seconds another ball was whipped in that Bruno Guimaraes headed over. Isak’s next meaningful involvement was being the victim of a clothesline after cutting past Joachim Andersen, earning the Danish centre-half the game’s first booking. CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Antonee Robinson soon joined him for tugging back Guimaraes to stop a breakaway and when Anthony Gordon blazed after a one-two with Joelinton frustration was starting to grow. Finally, in the 28th minute, we had the game’s first shot on target when Bernd Leno saved Fabian Schar’s effort. Adama Traore headed wide as Marco Silva’s men provided a warning of their own but the deadlock was almost broken in spectacular fashion when Sandro Tonali’s thunderous 30-yeard half-volley smashed the back off the bar. And the woodwork was still shaking when the goal eventually came moments later as Gordon charged forward down the left and his low cross deflected straight into the path of the onrushing Murphy to slam home. Now the whole place was rocking as the Toon smelt blood, and full-back Tino Livramento found himself through for a second but was denied by a great save courtesy of Leno’s leg. It remained just Murphy’s goal at the break with the away side still yet to test Martin Dubravka. However, within moments of the restart, Emile Smith Rowe twice forced the Slovakian keeper into action. Calvin Bassey headed over as their fast start continued and almost the whole of St James’ held its breath before letting out a sigh of relief when Jimenez’s low shot towards the bottom corner was deflected just the wrong side of the post. Fulham comeback A goal was coming, the whole of Tyneside could feel it, and it deservedly went the way of Fulham following a brilliant counter just after the hour. The West Londoners charged forward in numbers after stealing possession deep in their own half as the Toon defence desperately tried to backpeddle. Traore found Robinson from the left at the back post as the skipper put it first time back into the box for Jimenez to pull the trigger and find the net, albeit with the help of a deflection of Murphy, to wrongfoot Dubravka and make it all-even. Suddenly, the usually bouncing black and white cauldron had turned into an arena of nerves, and the game remained on a knife edge. Isak, who had been off it all day, almost produced a spark of magic when he curled one off the angle of the post and bar from the edge of the area. But, the late twist was to come up the other end courtesy of a former Middlesbrough man. Andreas Pereira swung a free-kick into the near post that fellow sub Muniz flicked past Dubvravka to win it. Fulham are now back looking up the table after bouncing back from last week’s loss to Manchester United. While Howe must lift his troops to defend their 2-0 advantage against the Gunners and seal a date with destiny at Wembley.
NEWCASTLE completely blew it and threw away the lead to lose to Fulham.
Eddie Howe revealed his “desperation” to take the club back to the Champions League pre-match but those hopes suffered a crushing blow with this 2-1 loss.
And a second-straight home defeat was the worst possible preparation for the Magpies ahead of their Carabao Cup semi-final second-leg against Arsenal.
However, Fulham’s second-half fightback has them dreaming of Europe once again after Rodrigo Muniz came off the bench to win it.
Newcastle looked to be cruising to an eighth league win out of nine after Jacob Murphy had given them a half-time lead.
Instead, a sloppy display after the break cost them as Raul Jimenez levelled before the Brazilian’s late dagger through the heart.
It had all started so well for the Magpies and things could have been much different if top scorer Alexander Isak had his shooting boots on.
Murphy’s early cross would usually have been bread and butter for Isak, but the in-form Swede’s air-kicked attempted volley let the visitors off the hook.
Fulham, though, still failed to clear properly and within seconds another ball was whipped in that Bruno Guimaraes headed over.
Isak’s next meaningful involvement was being the victim of a clothesline after cutting past Joachim Andersen, earning the Danish centre-half the game’s first booking.
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS
Antonee Robinson soon joined him for tugging back Guimaraes to stop a breakaway and when Anthony Gordon blazed after a one-two with Joelinton frustration was starting to grow.
Finally, in the 28th minute, we had the game’s first shot on target when Bernd Leno saved Fabian Schar’s effort.
Adama Traore headed wide as Marco Silva’s men provided a warning of their own but the deadlock was almost broken in spectacular fashion when Sandro Tonali’s thunderous 30-yeard half-volley smashed the back off the bar.
And the woodwork was still shaking when the goal eventually came moments later as Gordon charged forward down the left and his low cross deflected straight into the path of the onrushing Murphy to slam home.
Now the whole place was rocking as the Toon smelt blood, and full-back Tino Livramento found himself through for a second but was denied by a great save courtesy of Leno’s leg.
It remained just Murphy’s goal at the break with the away side still yet to test Martin Dubravka.
However, within moments of the restart, Emile Smith Rowe twice forced the Slovakian keeper into action.
Calvin Bassey headed over as their fast start continued and almost the whole of St James’ held its breath before letting out a sigh of relief when Jimenez’s low shot towards the bottom corner was deflected just the wrong side of the post.
Fulham comeback
A goal was coming, the whole of Tyneside could feel it, and it deservedly went the way of Fulham following a brilliant counter just after the hour.
The West Londoners charged forward in numbers after stealing possession deep in their own half as the Toon defence desperately tried to backpeddle.
Traore found Robinson from the left at the back post as the skipper put it first time back into the box for Jimenez to pull the trigger and find the net, albeit with the help of a deflection of Murphy, to wrongfoot Dubravka and make it all-even.
Suddenly, the usually bouncing black and white cauldron had turned into an arena of nerves, and the game remained on a knife edge.
Isak, who had been off it all day, almost produced a spark of magic when he curled one off the angle of the post and bar from the edge of the area.
But, the late twist was to come up the other end courtesy of a former Middlesbrough man.
Andreas Pereira swung a free-kick into the near post that fellow sub Muniz flicked past Dubvravka to win it.
Fulham are now back looking up the table after bouncing back from last week’s loss to Manchester United.
While Howe must lift his troops to defend their 2-0 advantage against the Gunners and seal a date with destiny at Wembley.
