SUPER-KID SESS STUNS BENITEZ
FULHAM super-kid Ryan Sessegnon made sure Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez had an anniversary to forget.
Twelve months to the day since he agreed to take over at St James’ Park, Benitez watched his side suffer their joint-heaviest league defeat of the season as Tom Cairney’s early opener was followed by two superb second-half goals from 16-year-old full-back Sessegnon.
Newcastle, who claimed a secondhalf consolation through Daryl Murphy, remain on top of the Sky Bet Championship, ahead of Brighton only on goal difference and just six points clear of third-placed Huddersfield.
Fulham are two points adrift of the play-off places, but boast a game in hand on all bar one of the sides in the top six and appear to be peaking at just the right time.
Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic said: “I believe at the end my team deserved the result. It is a great step for us.” But Newcastle’s home form is a growing source of concern for Benitez, with the Magpies now having suffered five league defeats at St James’ Park.
Benitez said: “We knew it could be a difficult game and we knew we had to do well at the beginning and not make mistakes. But we started making mistakes, and we paid for that.”
Their previous home game saw them concede two first-half goals to Bristol City, and they were on the back foot from the moment Cairney broke the deadlock in the 15th minute.