Newcastle United have moved inside some extent of sixth-positioned Manchester United following a 1-0 win in opposition to Fulham at Craven Cottage.
Injury-hit Newcastle weren’t at their classic finest, however Bruno Guimaraes broke the impasse within the 81st minute after rifling residence from inside the realm.
Here are 5 things we discovered from the sport.
READ MORE: Fulham vs Newcastle United highlights
READ MORE: Newcastle make ‘unknown’ transfer prediction even with huge Financial Fair Play wins on the best way
Bruno steps up as Newcastle have excellent response to VAR name
Late drama – it is all the time assured with Newcastle United. Fabian Schar appeared to have fired the guests in entrance within the 77th minute just for VAR to intervene and referee Sam Allison was despatched to the pitchside monitor, which is all the time a inform-story signal when it comes to a choice being overturned.
The referee may see that Dan Burn had barged into Calvin Bassey as Anthony Gordon crossed the ball into the field within the construct-up to Schar’s strike. The Fulham defender had already jumped on the level of contact and misinterpret the flight of the ball, however the official nonetheless reversed his unique resolution.
Furious Newcastle supporters had been quickly chanting: “You’re not fit to referee!” however the Magpies didn’t let their frustrations boil over and rapidly responded simply 4 minutes later.
A intelligent again heel from Elliot Anderson, who changed the injured Joe Willock within the first half, despatched fellow substitute Harvey Barnes operating down the left. Barnes’ teasing cross was solely cleared as far as the lurking Bruno Guimaraes, who rifled residence from inside the realm to put Newcastle forward on his 100th look for the membership.
This time, it counted as Bruno stepped up – simply as he did on the City Ground a few months in the past. There has been a lot speak about Bruno’s future however the Brazil worldwide despatched a transparent message together with his celebration on Saturday as he repeatedly tapped the badge earlier than lifting up his shirt and kissing it.
Eddie Howe will get indignant
Fulham made such a poor begin in opposition to Nottingham Forest that boss Marco Silva resorted to one of many earliest triple adjustments in Premier League historical past midweek. There was a powerful argument that Eddie Howe may have adopted swimsuit on Saturday – even with a depleted bench.
There was supposedly a lot using on this recreation for Newcastle, however you wouldn’t have recognized it by the best way the passive Magpies began. Newcastle repeatedly gave the ball away to Fulham, who prompted the black-and-whites actual issues down each flanks, and Joao Palhinha got here mightily shut to opening the scoring after 1 / 4 of an hour.
When Martin Dubravka went down for therapy halfway by the primary half, a scowling Howe summoned his gamers and gave them a bit of his thoughts as they gathered round him on the touchline. Newcastle improved barely thereafter – Anthony Gordon had a few first rate efforts – however there was nonetheless a sloppiness to the guests’ play within the first half, specifically. Fabian Schar, as an illustration, utterly misinterpret a ball excessive, and was lucky Rodrigo Muniz didn’t punish him, whereas on the different finish of the sector, even the in-type Alexander Isak took an uncharacteristically heavy contact after Sean Longstaff threaded the ball by to the document signing.
The half-time statistics had been damning: Fulham had 71%, 10 pictures and six corners; Newcastle, in distinction, had failed to have a single shot on track and even win a nook kick in opposition to a facet within the backside half. Newcastle may have simply been relieved to be stage on the break. That’s how poor the guests had been within the opening 45 minutes.
Newcastle keep within the hunt for Europe
Newcastle keep in eighth place, however the significance of this gritty win can’t be overstated within the race for Europe. Newcastle stay only a level behind West Ham, who got here from behind to defeat Wolves on Saturday afternoon, and the black-and-white nonetheless have a recreation in hand on the Hammers. Newcastle additionally moved inside only a level of sixth-positioned Manchester United, who face league leaders Liverpool on Sunday, in per week the harm-hit black-and-whites have picked up seven factors from the 9 on supply in opposition to West Ham, Everton and Fulham.
Geordies lastly get to have fun a league win in capital
Results in London had been essential to Newcastle’s prime 4 push final season – the Magpies prevented defeat within the capital within the prime-flight on the best way to qualifying for the Champions League – and this was a belated first league victory within the huge smoke in 2023-24 for a facet who’ve largely struggled on the highway this season. In reality, solely Brentford, Burnley, Nottingham Forest, Luton Town and Sheffield United have picked up fewer factors away from residence throughout this testing marketing campaign.
Although Newcastle had been removed from their finest, the guests nonetheless managed to come away with all three factors and a uncommon clear sheet to boot. That is not any imply feat in opposition to a Fulham facet who’ve received 9 video games on their very own turf and defeated Arsenal, Spurs, Brighton and West Ham at Craven Cottage in current months.
Injuries proceed to pile up
Eleven. That is the staggering variety of senior gamers Newcastle had been lacking earlier than a ball was even kicked on Saturday.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to counsel those that had been absent may type an XI able to going for Europe themselves. You may have Nick Pope in purpose; Kieran Trippier, Jamaal Lascelles, Sven Botman and Matt Targett on the again; Joelinton, Sandro Tonali and Lewis Miley in midfield; Miguel Almiron and Tino Livramento out extensive; and Callum Wilson up entrance.
Given the medium to lengthy-time period nature of those lay-offs, it’s arduous to think about many returning for the go to of Spurs subsequent week and it stays to be seen if Joe Willock shall be concerned after the midfielder hobbled off simply earlier than half-time after he felt a ache in his Achilles.