NEWCASTLE FULHAM NO TRIMMINGS
Benitez: We’ll be bottom-half club ALL season
CLAUDIO RANIERI had his prayers answered as Fulham finally kept a clean sheet at the 18th attempt this season.
And Rafa Benitez, who is resigned to a season-long slog in the lower half of the league table, will know someone up there likes him too – because his toothless Toon got away with a point.
Fulham, who had barely threatened all afternoon, twice had chances to grab a winner in the dying moments.
Aleksandar Mitrovic thought he should have had a penalty when his close-range shot struck Jamaal Lascelles’ arm after sub Aboubakar Kamara presented him with a glorious chance. And seconds later, Lascelles was his side’s saviour with a goal- saving tackle on Kamara.
Ranieri believes the goalless draw could prove a watershed. “It is important to get a point and a clean sheet because in our last matches, we have played well but our opponents have scored goals,” he said.
“Today our opponent had just one chance in the first half. We created more in counter-attacks and had four or five chances to win the match, but right now, it is important not to lose.
“My team was solid and calm. We changed to three at the back and it was good, closing down space very well.”
As for that late penalty shout, Ranieri was undecided: “I’ve watched it two or three times and still I don’t know.”
At least Newcastle avoided an eighth defeat in 10 games at St James’ Park this term.
But the fact they failed to have one shot on target against opponents who had leaked 42 goals since winning promotion said it all.
Benitez ( below) said: “We have to realise we will be in the bottom half of the table for the whole season and if we go higher it would be another miracle.
“This i s the kind of game we had to win, but in the last five minutes, if you cannot win, don’t give them chances. We deserved to win but could have lost, so if there was disappointment for 85 minutes, there is a sense of relief after the last five.”
This was meant to be the ■ Rafa Benitez has yet to lose a home Prem game against Fulham (W4 D4), with a clean sheet in each of the last six meetings. clash between Toon strikers past and present but with both Salomon Rondon and Mitrovic firing blanks, it was Fulham keeper Sergio Rico who almost delivered the knockout blow.
He sent Alfie Mawson crashing to the ground in the 32nd minute when his f i st connected with his team- mate’s jaw as he tried to punch clear.
Poor Mawson looked out for the count but showed Tyson Fury-like powers of recovery to resume after a long stoppage. But footballwise, this dire contest was strictly featherweight, with both sides showing why they will be scrapping for survival.
Newcastle may be tough ■ Fulham got their first clean sheet in the Premier League in 22 games, since winning 1-0 against Norwich in April 2014. nuts to crack on their travels but in front of their own fans, they’re struggling badly.
Ki Sung-yeung – who now flies out to Abu Dhabi to link up with the South Korea squad ahead of the Asia Cup – provided a dash of creativity but there was little festive cheer for the Toon Army.
The Magpies did threaten on 18 minutes when Lascelles met Ki’s free- kick but his header across goal was hacked clear by Denis Odoi.
The second half was no improvement. Fabian Schar headed a Matt Ritchie corner over in the 74th minute and two minutes later, at the other end, Joe Bryan’s shot drifted wide of the post.
Fulham finished stronger and despite dominating most of the game, Newcastle were relieved to hear the final whistle.