Newcastle miss top-four chance as Fulham seal comeback win

Newcastle United’s hopes of moving into the top four of the Premier League were dashed after Fulham completed a remarkable second-half comeback at St James’ Park.

A point for the Magpies would have seen them leapfrog Manchester City, who were set to face Arsenal on Sunday, February 2.

However, Fulham fought back from a 1-0 deficit to win 2-1, with Rodrigo Muniz scoring the decisive goal in the 82nd minute, tapping in a clever free-kick delivery from Andreas Pereira.

The match began with Newcastle in control. Jacob Murphy put them ahead in the 37th minute, slotted home a goal from a deflected cross by Anthony Gordon.

The early dominance by the Magpies nearly resulted in more, as Sandro Tonali’s powerful 30-yard shot had St James’ Park holding its breath, striking the upright just a minute before Murphy’s opener.

However, despite their solid first-half performance, Newcastle struggled to maintain their advantage in the second half.

Fulham, who had struggled to find their rhythm in the first half, emerged with renewed determination after the break. Raul Jimenez was a central figure in their revival, and in the 61st minute, he scored the equalizer, converting a cross from Antonee Robinson with the help of a slight deflection off a Newcastle defender.

The equalizer shifted the momentum, and the Cottagers continued to press forward, eventually taking the lead in the 82nd minute when substitute Muniz latched onto a free-kick from Pereira to score the winner.

Newcastle’s defense, which had been solid for much of the match, could not cope with Fulham’s quick and well-coordinated attacking play in the second half. The Magpies, who had been on a strong run of form, were stunned by the turnaround, and they were unable to respond to Fulham’s late surge.

Fulham’s manager Marco Silva was pleased with his team’s response after a lackluster first half. He explained in his post-match comments that he had encouraged his players to be braver and more direct, especially in the attacking third, where they had lacked bodies in the box during the first 45 minutes.

Silva’s halftime words seemed to spark a change, as Fulham came out more aggressive and purposeful in their pursuit of the game’s equalizer and eventual winner.

Newcastle’s star striker, Alexander Isak, had been quiet for much of the match but almost scored in the 76th minute with a beautifully struck curling effort from the left-hand side that hit the upright.

It looked as though Isak’s shot would restore Newcastle’s lead, but the ball stayed out, and Fulham capitalized on their growing confidence.

The defeat was a blow to Newcastle, marking the first time in over a year that they had lost consecutive home games in the Premier League.

Fulham’s win also marked a historic achievement as they completed their first league double over Newcastle since the 2008-09 season, further highlighting the progress the club has made under Silva.

The victory moved Fulham up to ninth in the Premier League standings, just five points behind Newcastle, who now sit in fifth place.

For Newcastle, the loss is a significant setback, especially with the Magpies set to face Arsenal in a crucial League Cup semi-final second leg on Wednesday.

They still hold a two-goal advantage over the Gunners but will now head into the match with concerns after their home defeat. Manager Eddie Howe admitted that the team must be at their best to win games, acknowledging that the Premier League is full of teams capable of pulling off surprises.

The loss to Fulham has raised questions about Newcastle’s ability to hold onto their strong position in the league, especially with tough fixtures ahead.

Fulham, on the other hand, will be encouraged by their performance. Although they had suffered defeats to West Ham and Manchester United in their last three games, the win over Newcastle shows they have the potential to challenge for a top-six finish, with European ambitions still in sight.

Silva’s side had lacked attacking quality in the first half but found their rhythm in the second, and the inclusion of Muniz proved to be a key move in securing the victory.

Newcastle will likely wonder where it all went wrong after a solid first half. They seemed in control and poised to push for an important win, but Fulham’s second-half surge caught them off guard.

The Magpies will need to quickly recover as they prepare for their crucial cup match against Arsenal, knowing that any further slip-ups could affect their top-four aspirations in the Premier League.

In summary, Fulham’s 2-1 comeback victory over Newcastle was a major upset, giving them their first top-flight double over the Magpies in 16 years.

While Fulham celebrated a well-earned win, Newcastle will need to reflect on what went wrong and focus on their upcoming challenges, particularly their League Cup semi-final against Arsenal.

Both teams will be looking for consistency in the second half of the season, but Fulham will take significant confidence from their impressive turnaround at St James’ Park.