LONG SHOTS UP FOR CUP
Super Sean keeps Toon on track as club looks to end trophy pain
SEAN LONGSTAFF was back among the goals to keep Newcastle’s season alive and kicking.
A brilliant strike before the break was the homegrown Toon midfielder’s fourth of the season – but the first since back in October.
And what a timely return to form for the occasionally prolific Longstaff as his effort, coupled with Dan Burn’s close-range smash on 60 minutes, powered the troubled Geordies into the fifth round of the FA Cup.
For under-pressure St James’ Park manager Eddie Howe, no matter how harsh that sounds, it was a vital result. It means the club can still win silverware for the first time in 55 years this season. Fulham, on the other hand, are nursing some serious cup blues.
This was the second knockout blow for Marco Silva’s side in four days after their midweek Carabao Cup semi-final exit to Liverpool.
Howe had spent the build-up being quizzed on Newcastle’s seemingly desperate attempts to sell their top players in this window amid the Premier League wielding its Financial Fair Play sledgehammer.
The fact he was not involved in high-level talks last week with the hierarchy was interesting if not totally telling.
With their last chance of a trophy on the line, masterminding a plan to bring down Fulham yesterday was, arguably, more important regarding his own the long-term position.
Howe seemed to be in supreme control of everything at the club before their last-eight Carabao Cup exit in a penalty shoot-out down the road at Chelsea changed the situation on and off the pitch.
That followed swiftly on from finishing bottom of their Champions League group. Then came the patchy league form.
Fulham looked a reasonable draw, then, particularly with the pain of their League Cup woes to Liverpool still so raw. Their preparation had been limited. All Silva could hope for was the motivation to bounce back.
The 1975 runners-up certainly started brightly enough against a team they had not beaten since 2016.
Home striker Rodrigo Muniz found himself in acres of space inside the area after only two minutes yet the Brazil boy snatched his effort wildly off target.
Newcastle’s response was swift as they immediately carved out the best opportunity of the half.
Trouble was it fell to Jacob Murphy. In his first game since November, rustiness showed as he shot straight at Marek Rodak with only the
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Burn’s header and Lewis Miley’s flick that set up Longstaff perfectly – fell on deaf ears.
No disputing the perfection of the finish, however, as he swivelled and rifled in a half-volley.
Fulham soon lost crocked Harry Wilson but escaped falling two behind when Murphy was offside as he buried his shot.
The hosts enjoyed their best spell in the early stages of the second period but had nothing to show for that other than a Willian rocket disallowed for offside.
Instead, it was Burn who sent the travelling Toon Army wild with delight as he crashed in the killer second.