MIGGY Almiron inspires
SHORT of the nearby Thames overflowing and flooding the pitch, it was hard to see how things could have gone worse for Marco Silva. In fact, he might have preferred that after this utter calamity.
The Fulham manager, whose side had enjoyed such a good start to the season, saw midfielder Nathaniel Chalobah sent off after just eight minutes, his top scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic then limp off – and Eddie Howe’s Newcastle take full advantage.
The Geordies had only won once in the league before yesterday but they will not have an easier three points handed to them all season.
Miguel Almiron was the man who caught the eye with two goals, one of them a quite brilliant volley, but Callum Wilson could have filled his boots with four goals rather than the one he managed.
Sean Longstaff also notched for Toon while Bobby Decordova-Reid grabbed a late consolation goal.
Fulham were brought crashing down to earth as the brutal reality of the Premier League was rammed home. What will worry Silva even more is how serious Mitrovic’s injury is – but also the disastrous debut defender Layvin Kurzawa had. The onloan Frenchman was exposed time and again – and hauled off at half-time.
Howe said: “It was a really positive performance. I had a good feeling about us from the start.
“Yes, the sending off obviously helped, but even before that we looked good. I thought it was a high challenge, and Sean Longstaff was lucky to get up.”
The Newcastle manager added: “Miguel’s first goal was magical.
“He is capable of that sort of strike. I am delighted for him.”
The warning signs were there right from the start for Fulham, as Wilson missed a sitter from six yards after Longstaff ’s shot was saved.
But then came the first blow, after just eight minutes, as Chalobah was rightly sent off for a reckless lunge on Longstaff. VAR had no doubt.
Referee Darren England at first waved a yellow card before consulting VAR but then corrected his decision to send Chalobah walking.
Silva said: “The game changed totally with the red card. But the referee was clear at first it was a yellow, and then the decision from the fourth official Mike Dean is that it is a red.
“I am 100 per cent sure we will see tackles like that in the next few weeks that will be yellows. But our first half was not at the right level.”
Two minutes later Newcastle took advantage, as Kevin Mbabu missed Kieran Trippier’s cross at the far post. Joe Willock nodded the ball across, and Wilson converted from point-black range.
Toon doubled their lead when Bruno Guimaraes chipped the ball in and Almiron quite brilliantly volleyed it first time with the outside of his left foot into the far corner.
Cottagers keeper Bernd Leno was keeping them in the game with a series of brilliant saves but he was unable to stop Longstaff from adding a third.
Silva rang the changes as he tried to stem the tide, but it did not work. Willock once again got away, and from his low cross Almiron stabbed in his second goal.
Fulham grabbed one back two minutes from time when DecordovaReid nodded in Neeskens Kebano’s cross, but the game was long gone.