Time to sign off; I’ll leave you with our match report. Thanks for joining me. Bye!
Here’s Steve Bruce: “I think the referee’s made the right call. He’s denied a goalscoring opportunity, he’s not tried to play the ball and he’s clipped his heel. We’ve had our problems but we’ve got to be better. We didn’t give anything stupid away [did he see the own goal?]. It’s been a difficult week but we’ll take the point and move on.” It’s a familiar refrain.
Scott Parker isn’t happy: “The game has changed drastically. The contact is outside of the area, then he dives in the area. Technology is supposed to help make better decisions. On the touchline, all we’re doing is shouting about decisions. First half we were really good, second half we have to roll our sleeves up.”
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Here’s Louise Taylor’s match report:
Full time: Newcastle 1-1 Fulham
Hector goes in the book for hauling down Fraser, but the free kick goes nowhere. And that’s all she wrote. A result that’s unsatisfactory for all concerned.
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95 mins: Zambo-Anguissa gets forward, moves into the box and sends his cross into Clark’s path. The ball goes through the defender’s legs and bounces up onto his hand. Fulham appeal for a penalty; the referee and VAR remain unmoved.
94 mins: Reed is stood down with Lemina able to carry on, and Joe Bryan replaces Lookman instead...
92 mins: Adarabioyo, who has been impressive again for Fulham, snuffs out the danger as Dwight Gayle looked to get in behind. Time running out for Newcastle...
90 mins: Fulham are sitting deep and keeping Newcastle at bay. There will be five additional minutes.
88 mins: Lemina goes down with cramp. Harrison Reed is about to come on, and will probably replace Lemina, who has put a real shift in.
A little more detail on the penalty from the doyen of VAR:
The Newcastle penalty was upheld because Andersen caught Wilson's boot (as shown in the VAR image). It wasn't the tug of the shirt.
— Dale Johnson (@DaleJohnsonESPN) December 19, 2020
Then it's subjective whether it's a clear goalscoring opportunity for a red.
It's extremely soft, doubt the VAR would upgrade to a pen. #NEWFUL pic.twitter.com/i34O4xlU8M
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86 mins: Wilson collects Longstaff’s pass and tries to turn, but Lemina is persistent enough to put the forward off and his shot is scuffed wide.
85 mins: Yedlin and Lookman resume their high-octane battle down the wing, with the Fulham man cutting out Yedlin’s cross.
83 mins: Time is ticking away for Newcastle as we head towards a result that, given how the game has played out, will please nobody.
81 mins: Hayden climbs but is well-marked, and can’t steer his header back across goal. Fulham get the ball downfield and relieve some of the pressure. On the touchline, Parker is mithering about that yellow card, telling the fourth official to leave it aaht or similar.
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80 mins: Robinson goes in the book for putting his arm across Miguel Almíron, who went down a little theatrically. Another chance for Ritchie to swing one into the mixer...
79 mins: And yes, I do appreciate a) Ritchie will drop back into defence and b) they’re at home to 10-man Fulham. Ritchie and Fraser overlap immediately, the latter skidding in a cross that Lemina hacks away.
77 mins: Paul Dummett is replaced by Ryan Fraser. Brucey’s going for the win! Take that, haters.
75 mins: Changes for both sides; Dwight Gayle replaces Joelinton for the hosts, while Ruben Loftus-Cheek comes on for Mitrovic.
74 mins: Almiron breaks upfield, with Wilson in support, and gets brought down by Hector, trundling back at surprising speed. Fulham deal with Shelvey’s free kick; Newcastle can’t really get any momentum going.
73 mins: Lookman whips the free-kick towards Hector at the back post, but Yedlin is there to bundle it behind. Fulham corner, headed over by Shelvey; the second corner is punched away by Darlow ...
71 mins: Shelvey’s through ball finds Joelinton, but Areola races out smartly to prod the ball away with his feet. At the other end, Decordova-Reid draws a foul from Ciaran Clark, who is booked.
69 mins: Lookman stings Darlow’s palms with a snap shot; Fulham not giving up hope of snatching the win yet.
Plenty on Twitter, Gary Lineker among them, are saying that Wilson dived. Which he did, but only after Andersen had tried to pull him back and then caught the striker’s foot. Double jeopardy doesn’t apply either, as Andersen made no attempt to play the ball.
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67 mins: Another free-kick in a decent spot for Newcastle; Fulham’s discipline has let them down in this half. Longstaff has a go from 30 yards, it’s well struck but Areola is behind it.
65 mins: Michael Hector comes on to replace Tom Cairney as Scott Parker aims to dig in for a point. I would like to apologise for saying Fulham looked “pretty comfortable” some 13 minutes ago.
GOAL! Newcastle 1-1 Fulham (Wilson pen 64')
Callum Wilson strokes the ball straight down the middle, Areola dives to the left, and it’s one-all.
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Joachim Andersen is sent off!
He had already been booked but it’s a straight red. It feels harsh, but he made no attempt to play the ball, and Wilson was in on goal.
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Penalty awarded! Graham Scott is going to have a look at the pitchside monitor, but it’s to decide whether Andersen should get a red card.
Penalty to Newcastle!
This is all too easy as Aina gives the ball away and Almiron plays in Wilson. Anderson pulls him back and Wilson gladly goes down. But the VAR is checking whether the contact was outside the area.
57 mins: Newcastle almost break through from open play, Yedlin’s superb through ball finding Joelinton, who shrugs off Lemina only to be denied by Andersen’s interception.
55 mins: Lemina is penalised for a foul close to the right-hand touchline. Ritchie swings it in, but Fulham clear it away. Set pieces still look like Newcastle’s best option at the minute.
54 mins: Hayden is a like-for-like replacement, slotting in at centre-back as he has done a few times this season. Steve Bruce has two subs left, but there’s not a wealth of creative options on his bench.
52 mins: Lookman leads another Fulham break, carrying the ball 40 yards before slipping a pass to Mitrovic, who settles for a corner with a lack of options in the middle. Newcastle just about deal with it.
“Not sure I can bear another 45 minutes, might have to hide under the duvet,” writes Richard Hirst. From a neutral perspective, Fulham seem pretty comfortable.
50 mins: Half-chance for Fulham as a cross rebounds to Cairney, whose awkward snap-shot is well held by Darlow.
48 mins: Antonee Robinson lies down behind the wall, as is the modern fashion. Shelvey tries to go up and over, and sends his effort a few feet over the bar.
47 mins: Newcastle win a dangerous free kick as Andersen clips Almíron’s boot on the edge of the area. It’s a yellow card for the defender, and Jonjo Shelvey will fancy this ...
Peep!
We’re back under way, with Isaac Hayden replacing Federico Fernández for Newcastle.
“Fulham are out of the dungeon!” cheers Mary Waltz. I like it; that ought to be the default name for the relegation zone. As it stands, Fulham would be up to 16th, two points behind Arsenal.
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | Fulham | 14 | -9 | 12 |
| 17 | Brighton | 13 | -6 | 11 |
| 18 | Burnley | 12 | -12 | 10 |
| 19 | West Brom | 13 | -16 | 7 |
| 20 | Sheff Utd | 13 | -17 | 1 |
Half-time reading
Never mind, Newcastle fans. Soon be Christmas, eh? Ah.
Half time! Newcastle 0-1 Fulham
The visitors deservedly lead at half-time against hosts that have looked more passive and uncertain with every passing minute. Back soon.
45 mins: Another opening for Fulham, Aina lifting the ball into Cairney’s path but it’s just overhit. Newcastle have had 33% possession so far.
The opener comes from a corner won by Antonee Robinson down the left. Lookman’s delivery finds Adarabioyo, whose downward header prompts panic, eventually spinning in off poor Matt Ritchie’s face. Yikes, that’s not pretty. You can only imagine the reaction if the fans were here.
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GOAL! Newcastle 0-1 Fulham (Ritchie own goal 42')
Fulham have their breakthrough goal from a corner!
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40 mins: A little bit of a lull as half-time approaches.
38 mins: Newcastle’s best chance, as Ritchie scraps to get the ball back and plays in Almíron. Twelve yards out, he fires a low shot from a tight angle and Areola gets down well to save and hold.
36 mins: Cairney plays a free kick down the left to Lookman, whose cross ends up ricocheting back to Cairney. His left foot lets him down, the shot flying wide. Lemina went down under pressure from Longstaff and appeals lustily for a penalty; a little desperate, if we’re being honest.
“Re: Cairney [17 mins]. This is when we bring out the ‘he’s not that kind of player’ line,” writes Richard Hirst. It was a strange one; it looked innocuous but if the referee saw it, he would be in trouble.
31 mins: Fulham are well on top here, and seem to have so many attacking options. This time, Lemina’s diagonal catches Paul Dummett cold and Decordova-Reid is in. He has to stretch to connect on the volley though, and Darlow is able to turn it away!
29 mins: Lookman flicks the ball beyond Yedlin and races into the area, before going down as the players collide. No penalty, but another Fulham corner which Darlow collects.
26 mins: Lookman’s free kick is blocked by Fernandez, atoning for a foul that very nearly led to a Fulham penalty. The corner is headed wide by Adarabioyo, who had found a pocket of space. Another decent opportunity for the visitors.
25 mins: Anguissa does brilliantly to combine with Lookman, before prodding the ball through to Decordova-Reid, who is onside. Darlow races out to smother his shot, but play will be called back for a foul on Anguissa by Fernandez, about six inches outside the area...
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22 mins: Shelvey pounces on a weak defensive header and Newcastle have Fulham on the back foot, but they take too long working the ball around before Yedlin’s cross is headed well over by Joelinton.
20 mins: It’s been an enjoyable, knockabout first 20 minutes with Fulham making marginally the better openings.
17 mins: Yedlin flicks the ball over his marker and scoots to the byline, sending in a dangerous cross. In the buildup, Joelinton nicked the ball away from Cairney and replays show the Fulham man standing on his opponent’s calf. No action is taken; it’s hard to tell if it was intentional.
15 mins: Longstaff and Robinson fly into a 50-50 challenge that has Andy Hinchcliffe salivating in the commentary box. Ritchie picks up the loose ball and skews an ambitious effort well wide.
14 mins: If you’ll forgive my stating the obvious, the first goal could be crucial.
13 mins: Newcastle win a free kick, which Fernandez nods back across goal. Areola looks uncertain again, but the offside flag comes to his aid.
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11 mins: Decent opening for Fulham, Aina’s deep cross landing in front of Cairney, whose toe-poke is deflected over by Shelvey. The corner is cleared but Fulham come again, and Anguissa’s cross finds Lookman unmarked. His header is straight at Karl Darlow; either side and it’s probably 1-0.
9 mins: Ritchie swings in a cross that Wilson connects with, but his looping header is simple enough for Areola to deal with. A bit of joy down Fulham’s left already for Newcastle though.
8 mins: Lookman is caught by a Newcastle move down the right, but Antonee Robinson deals with it. The corner comes in, Areola rather flaps at it, before Shelvey’s shot from the edge of the area is blocked.
7 mins: Fulham have certainly come to play, zipping the ball around in their zesty bright yellow shirts. Lookman is out on the left but dovetailing with Cairney and moving centrally when he can.
5 mins: Matt Ritchie bustles down the right but his low cross is cut out. Fulham deal with the corner and work the ball upfield, where Cairney and Mitrovic combine nicely. Ola Aina’s overhit cross brings an end to the break.
3 mins: Fulham win a free kick on the left, which Ademola Lookman swings into the area. Fernández nods away for a corner, from which Mario Lemina’s shot is charged down.
1 min: Seconds after the kick-off, Mitrovic beats Longstaff in the air and has a go from a long, long way out. It flies high and wide, but he’s clearly up for this against his old club.
Peep!
The players take a collective knee before Graham Scott blows his whistle.
A late change for Fulham: Ivan Cavaleiro has been injured in the warm-up, so Bobby Decordova-Reid will start in his place, dropping into what looks a three-man attacking midfield behind Mitrovic.
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Not a lot of optimism out there...
Paul Is correct, this is one of the poorest most disjointed Newcastle side I’ve seen. The decline under Bruce is noticeable. Rafa was improving the team and individuals, the same can no longer be said. Bruce has been lucky though, he’s had 10 years worth in 1 1/2 seasons
— Duncan Davie (@davies_duncan) December 19, 2020
Meanwhile, here’s Fulham fan Richard Hirst: “Optimistic scenario: Palace sack Roy after today’s drubbing, Fulham bring him back to mentor Scott, he saves us from relegation and takes us to the Europa League final in two years time (though maybe with a different outcome). I’ll wake up before kick off!”
Here are both managers, both going in on what will surely be a popular them over this relentless Christmas spell:
Steve Bruce on Covid absences: “We have to accept it, get on with and not make excuses. We’re trying to freshen things up tonight. Getting to 20 points by Christmas would be an achievement.”
Scott Parker: “We’re coming into a busy schedule, and using our squad to get us through. We’re looking to freshen it up, cause Newcastle problems and get some more points.”
It’s finished Everton 2-1 Arsenal at Goodison Park. Arsenal had chances in the second half, but it’s an eighth defeat in 14 games. If Newcastle win tonight, they’ll be six points above the Gunners with a game in hand; if Fulham win, they’ll be within two points of Arsenal. Mercy me.
This Newcastle fan is hyped for the big game:
I feel so sorry for you having to watch us, hopefully it’ll be a good match !
— ⚫️Paul Usher (@Paul_Usher1) December 19, 2020
Into injury time at Goodison Park where Arsenal are at it again. Everton lead 2-1; join Rob Smyth for the final throes.
Team news
Newcastle (4-4-2): Darlow; Yedlin, Fernández, Clark, Dummett; Almíron, Sean Longstaff, Shelvey, Ritchie; Wilson, Joelinton.
Subs: Carroll, Gayle, Hayden, Lewis, Hendrick, Krafth, Fraser, Murphy, Gillespie.
Fulham (4-2-3-1): Areola; Aina, Andersen, Adarabioyo, Robinson; Zambo Anguissa, Lemina; Ivan Cavaleiro, Cairney, Lookman; Mitrovic.
Subs: Hector, Odoi, Rodak, Ream, Reid, Loftus-Cheek, Reed, Bryan, Kamara.
Referee: Graham Scott (Oxfordshire)
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Preamble
Christmas is cancelled, but at least the football’s on. It’s time to hunker down for the festive deluge of Premier League games, faintly ridiculous even in normal circumstances but a welcome diversion, if we’re being honest.
Newcastle, still stricken by a Covid-19 outbreak at the club, face Manchester City, Liverpool and Leicester next in the league, sandwiched between Cup ties at Brentford and Arsenal. A home win here of any kind would be most welcome.
That said, Scott Parker’s side will also have this down as a rare winnable game with Southampton, Spurs, Chelsea and Manchester United coming up in the next month. The goalless draw with Brighton was a missed opportunity, and Fulham still linger in the bottom three despite improved form.
Kick-off is at 8pm, GMT. Team news to follow.
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