Bruno celebrates Magpies landmark with crucial goal to sink the Cottagers

BRUNO Guimaraes repeatedly pumped his fist as he joined thousands of Geordies in song.

“WE’LL SUPPORT YOU EVER MORE!” the Newcastle United midfielder roared in front of a bouncing away end at full-time.

This was certainly a 100th club appearance to remember. Bruno had just fired his side to a 1-0 win against Fulham.

Having seen Fabian Schar’s late strike controversially ruled out, injury-ravaged Newcastle kept pushing and Bruno embodied the visitors’ spirit at Craven Cottage.

In fact, it was the Brazil international who made a lung-busting run into the box in the 81st minute to rifle the ball into the back of the net.

You suspect only the threat of a yellow card, and a two-match ban, stopped the goal scorer from launching himself into the arms of Newcastle fans after he celebrated his winner by repeatedly pointing to the badge on his chest.

“I hope I can stay,” Bruno said after the game. “I’m very happy here. Let’s see what the future brings, but I’m happy at Newcastle United.”

Howe, for his part, sees a player who “looks happy off the pitch as well” after handing Bruno a new contract just a few months ago.

However, the Newcastle boss has also acknowledged that qualifying for Europe would “certainly help” the Magpies keep hold of their stars on an afternoon his team moved within a point of sixth-placed Manchester United.

Among those watching on in the capital were part-owners Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi and whatever competition Newcastle end up in, or not, this is a summer where the black-and-whites need to show their prized assets that they are a club “moving forward” with their actions as much as

Howe’s eyes.

To prove to Bruno, Alexander Isak and others that, even with financial restrictions, this remains the ambitious project they signed up to when Newcastle, incidentally, were a long way from playing in Europe.

Bruno has been a constant in Newcastle’s rise ever since – even in a campaign where the Magpies have been rocked by injuries.

In fact, the Brazil international has only missed seven league games for the club since rocking up on Tyneside in January, 2022.

It is not a coincidence that Newcastle failed to win any of those topflight fixtures without their talisman; in contrast, Howe’s team have won all 10 Premier League matches when Bruno has scored.

This was the latest instalment after Bruno completed his third 90 minutes in just a week.

With few alternatives, Howe made just two changes to the XI that were their words in held to a 1-1 draw against Everton on Wednesday night as Joe Willock and Anthony Gordon came in for Elliot Anderson and Harvey Barnes – and Newcastle could not afford a hangover from midweek.

Fulham, after all, have won nine games on their own turf in the top-flight this season – scoring three or more goals in seven of those victories – and the hosts were going to be fired up following a poor display at Nottingham Forest. Newcastle, though, allowed Fulham to settle and the hosts signalled their intent early on. Tom Cairney slipped in the rapid Antonee Robinson down the overlap and the defender stepped inside Emil Krafth, but his effort was straight at Martin Dubravka.

It was nonetheless a sign of things to come and Fulham repeatedly targeted Newcastle down the flanks. Just a few minutes later, Robinson clipped the ball into the box and Fabian Schar missed the header.

Andreas Pereira pounced and managed to chest it down, but the midfielder also hit the ball right at Dubravka after the Newcastle goalkeeper rushed off his line.

Fulham were remarkably dominant and Howe delivered some strong words to his players during a break in play while Dubravka received treatment for a knee issue midway through the first half.

Newcastle finally created their first opening just a few minutes later when Bruno nudged the ball to Anthony Gordon inside the centre circle and the England international put on the afterburners.

Fulham defenders backed off, inviting Gordon to shoot, and the Scouser did not need a second invitation as he let fly from 25 yards – but the ball whistled past the post.

It was as close as Newcastle came to having a shot on target – let alone scoring – in the first half and Fulham still looked like the likelier scorers despite the hosts’ wasteful finishing.

The half was drawing to a close when a routine ball over the top of Newcastle’s high defensive line caused problems.

Schar looked to have things under control only for the centre-back to get his feet in a tangle – and Rodrigo Muniz pounced.

Muniz played a one-two with countryman Andreas Pereira, but yet another tame finish let Fulham down and the in-form striker’s effort was easily claimed by Dubravka.

Newcastle, who lost Willock to injury before the break, will have just been relieved that it was still goalless following a half where the visitors had 29% possession and failed to have a shot on target or even win a corner.

There were some further strong words at the break and Bernd Leno was finally forced into action just a few minutes into the second half.

The Fulham goalkeeper had to be alert to push the ball away after Gordon cut inside Timothy Castagne

I hope I can stay. I’m very happy here. Let’s see what the future brings but I’m happy at Newcastle United