Mitrovic slip-up gives lucky Toon a leg-up
Sub Isak’s late strike rubs Fulham’s noses in it after penalty nightmare
RAFA BENItEZ always said that Aleksandar Mitrovic gave away too many needless free-kicks. here was another. Incredibly, from his own penalty.
the former Newcastle boss never trusted the serb. he thought he could cause a rumpus in an empty phone box. It was an empty penalty box this time.
With the game goalless in the 69th minute, the Fulham striker slipped at the moment of impact from 12 yards, sending his penalty beyond Nick Pope but only after the ball had clipped his standing foot. Free-kick. Needless.
Mitrovic was always popular on tyneside, at least among fans. And if home supporters were laughing then, they nearly burst when substitute Alexander Isak headed the winner just one minute from time.
It was, then, a tale of two Alexanders. One great, one not so. Mitrovic returned to st James’ Park determined to prove a point and ended up costing Marco silva’s side all three. But for Isak, it was his best moment since arriving for a club record £60million in August.
the sweden striker has cut a frustrated figure during his four months out with a thigh injury. But how that angst evaporated when he gratefully nodded into an empty net from Callum Wilson’s hooked pull-back in front of the Gallowgate End.
It should be noted that, not for the first time, Wilson’s right boot made a game-changing contribution. Earlier, in the moments before Mitrovic’s penalty, he appeared to scuff the spot with his studs. Perhaps he had read the banner unfurled pre-match in tribute to Eddie howe, quoting the head coach as saying: ‘We’re not here to be popular, we’re here to compete.’
Newcastle are doing more than compete right now. this win returned them to third in the table and extended their unbeaten run to 14 games in the Premier League. Only one English manager has achieved that sequence in the 21st century, Alan Pardew here 12 years ago. he took them into the Europa League that season. It says much for the progress under howe that the same return would probably be a disappointment. the Champions League is a realistic ambition, especially when digging out results from games in which, for large parts, they are in something of a hole. Newcastle were not at their best but necessity remains the mother of invention and, needing a spark in attack, howe paired Wilson and Isak for the first time when introducing the latter two minutes after Mitrovic’s mistake.
their impact together was not instant, but it was certainly timely when it finally arrived. the clock was just seconds away from 90 minutes when sean Longstaff hoisted a cross to the far post and Wilson jumped with Issa Diop, reacting quickest as the ball dropped between them before lifting it on to the brow of the unmarked Isak in the goalmouth.
Fulham appealed for an infringement but replays showed the goal to be clean. the same could not be said for the grubbiness surrounding the award of Fulham’s penalty.
Four minutes elapsed between Kieran trippier’s foul on Bobby Decordova-Reid and Mitrovic’s gaffe and there was a lot to unpick in that time.
First, Newcastle’s Dan Burn appeared to bundle over Andreas Pereira in the area. No whistle. then, trippier kicked DecordovaReid’s ankle and the Fulham forward went to ground. Again, no whistle. On we went and it was only when a Newcastle attack was cleared for a corner that a VAR review ensued.
Pereira, stockley Park decided, had gone down too easily. they were right. But Decordova-Reid, they reckoned, had been tripped. Correct. VAR had done its job.
the drama that unfolded in the last half an hour overshadowed what felt like the day’s biggest controversy — howe’s decision to start with Joelinton, despite his drink-driving charge. On Friday, he had given the impression he could drop him, only to find a reverse gear when reasoning: ‘It is still my job to pick the best side to win a game.’
It took just 13 seconds for Fulham right back Kenny tete to feel the force of the Brazilian’s bite with a thumping challenge in front of the dugouts. And how his physicality was needed in getting to grips with a Fulham team who dominated the opening 20 minutes.
howe recognised as much and brought him back into midfield from the left wing. that security was the foundation for home improvement and Newcastle were only denied a first-half lead by the goalkeeping of Bernd Leno, who saved from Wilson on three occasions.
At the other end, Pope did not have a save to make and his fifth straight clean sheet is now a club record in the top flight.
the only negative for Newcastle was an ankle injury to star midfielder
Bruno Guimaraes, who left the field in tears at half-time and did not reappear.
Mitrovic was not crying come the end, but he certainly must have felt like it. Meanwhile, somewhere, a certain senor Benitez was no doubt smiling.