Toon get out of a tight spot
AND COTTAGERS EXIT DROP ZONE
CALLUM WILSON rescued Newcastle again as Fulham climbed out of the bottom three, despite suffering red-card and penalty controversy.
Steve Bruce’s men were heading for an embarrassing defeat until Wilson won and scored a penalty, and got defender Joachim Andersen sent off, in the game’s flashpoint on the hour.
Until then, Fulham had been on top and cruising a rare away win, with Newcastle unable to keep the ball and build pressure.
Scott Parker has repeatedly warned it will be a roller-coaster season for his side in and around the bottom five, and his squad seem to be well prepared and up for the scrap. If there had been a full crowd at St James’ Park, they’d be voicing their disgust at seeing their side park the bus for long periods in the first half against such lowly opposition.
But they revived after the break to create more chances and earn a draw.
Newcastle now face a huge game on Tuesday at Brentford with the prize of their first cup semi-final in 15 years up for grabs. They will have to be a lot better than this.
The big controversy of the game came after an hour when Miguel Almiron sent Wilson in on goal, but he was fouled by Andersen, right on the edge of the box.
Ref Graham Scott immediately gave the spot-kick, but it looked debatable with Wilson falling over in the box. The decision was checked by VAR, and by
Scott himself on the pitchside monitor and he stuck by his decision, showing Andersen a red card.
Wilson stepped up to convert the spot-kick for his eighth of the season in 12 appearances.
It was a devastating blow to Parker’s side, and he will have been fuming at the decision which was borderline.
Parker has been encouraged by Fulham becoming “more resilient” of late with a win and two draws in their last four games.
They started positively, bossing the first half and taking a deserved lead on 42 minutes, gifted an own goal by Matt Ritchie.
Ademola Lookman’s corner was met by a towering leap and header from Tosin Adarabioyo. It was flashing just wide, but Ritchie, defending the back post, saw it later and his body position was squared up and bundled it home.
The United midfielder was cursing, but Fulham were worthy of their break having dominated territorially, with Toon old boy Aleksandar Mitrovic starting, and Tom Cairney making play.
Steve Bruce made changes to the line up that lost heavily at Leeds in midweek to “freshen up”, with Paul Dummett making his first appearance for 11 months, and DeAndre Yedlin getting a rare start.
Fulham’s away record is terrible, having lost 22 of their last 27 games in the top flight with just two wins.
Worst still was their record of clean sheets with just two shutouts in the previous 43 away games in the Premier League, including one at Newcastle in December two years ago.
But they were on the front foot, against a Newcastle side still recovering from a coronavirus outbreak that hit eight players.
Lookman hit the ball with a free- kick and Adarabioyo gave warning of his goal threat by powering a header at goal.
Lemina unlocked the home defence with a delightful chipped ball, but Bobby Decordova- Reid couldn’t make a good contact at the back post.
Wilson showed his intent with a 40- yard surge into the box after knocking Mario Lemina off the ball, but his pass was snuffed out.
Joelinton had a header fly over. Fulham had the best of the first half and took the game to Bruce’s men, whose passing stats are poor.
Some Newcastle fans are frustrated by what they see as a lack of progress under Bruce, and want to see their club have more of a command of games.
The combination of Jonjo Shelvey and Sean Longstaff lacked snap in midfield, and they didn’t get the ball out wide enough.
They were once again relying on the counter-attack here.
At the right end, Ritchie responded by pinching the ball on the edge of the box and finding Miguel Almiron who tested the Cottagers goalkeeper Alphonse Areola.